Locomotion system and apparatus
View Patent ↗A locomotion system for use with a virtual environment technology includes a platform configured to support a user, a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, and a safety harness configured to be worn by the user. The harness support assembly includes a support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis. The safety harness includes an interface structure moveably coupled to the support halo.
1. A locomotion system for use with a virtual environment technology, the system comprising:
a platform;
a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, wherein the harness support assembly comprises a vertically adjustable support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis;
a safety harness coupled to an interface structure configured to slidingly engage and be vertically supported by the support halo; and
a motion sensing device in communication with a processing unit and configured to detect and track motion within the platform.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support halo is disposed at a height H above the platform, and wherein the height H is between 30.0 and 50.0 in.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support halo is annular.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support halo is configured to extend completely about a user.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support halo includes an access door.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one foot covering configured to engage the platform, wherein the foot covering is composed of a variable friction material having a low coefficient of friction.
7. The system of claim 1 , where the motion sensing device includes a first inertial motion sensor coupled to a first of the at least one foot covering and a second inertial motion sensor coupled to a second of the at least one foot covering.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the harness support assembly includes a pair of circumferentially spaced connecting beams coupled to the support halo.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vertical member coupled to the safety harness and is disposed within the support halo, wherein the vertical member is configured to limit radial movement of the interface structure relative to the support halo.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety harness is configured to move vertically relative to the support halo.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety harness is configured to move circumferentially relative to the support halo.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the safety harness is configured to move radially relative to the support halo.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motion sensing device is disposed in at least one of the platform, a controller, or a display device.
14. The system of claim 1 , the motion sensing devices is selected from the group comprising an inertial motion sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an infrared sensor, an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, a global positioning tracking device, and magnetic tracking device.
15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the motion sensing device is coupled to the controller.
17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a visual display.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the motion sensing device is coupled to the visual display.
19. A locomotion system comprising:
a platform;
a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and including at least two vertical beams extending upwardly from the platform and coupled with a support halo, wherein the support halo is vertically adjustable and positioned above the platform extending about a vertical central axis;
a safety harness coupled to an interface structure moveably configured to slidingly engage the support halo, wherein the interface structure is configured to move circumferentially relative to the support halo and is vertically supported by the support halo; and
at least one motion sensing device in communication with a processing unit and configured to detect and track movement within the platform.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the support halo is disposed at a height H above the platform, and wherein the height H is between 30.0 and 50.0 in.
21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the support halo is annular.
22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the support halo is configured to extend completely about a user.
23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the support halo includes an access door.
24. The system of claim 19 , further comprising at least one foot covering configured to engage the platform, wherein the foot covering is composed of a variable friction material having a low coefficient of friction.
25. The system of claim 19 , where the motion sensing device includes a first inertial motion sensor coupled to a first foot covering and a second inertial motion sensor coupled to a second foot covering.
26. The system of claim 19 , wherein the harness support assembly includes a pair of circumferentially spaced connecting beams coupled to the support halo.
27. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a vertical member coupled to the safety harness and is disposed within the support halo, wherein the vertical member is configured to limit radial movement of the interface structure relative to the support halo.
28. The system of claim 19 , wherein the safety harness is configured to move vertically relative to the support halo.
29. The system of claim 19 , wherein the safety harness is configured to move radially relative to the support halo.
30. The system of claim 19 , wherein the motion sensing device is disposed in at least one of the platform, a controller, or a display device.
31. The system of claim 19 , the motion sensing devices is selected from the group comprising an inertial motion sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an infrared sensor, an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, a global positioning tracking device, and magnetic tracking device.
32. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a controller.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the motion sensing device is coupled to the controller.
34. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a visual display.
35. The system of claim 34 , wherein the motion sensing device is coupled to the visual display.
36. A locomotion system comprising:
a platform;
a harness support assembly coupled to and extending upwardly from the platform and coupled with a support halo; and
a safety harness coupled to an interface structure and a vertical member, wherein the interface structure is moveably configured to slidingly engage the support halo and the vertical member is disposed within the support halo is configured to limit radial movement of the interface structure relative to the support halo.
37. The system of claim 36 , further comprising at least one foot covering configured to engage the platform, wherein the foot covering is composed of a variable friction material having a low coefficient of friction.
38. The system of claim 36 , further comprising a first inertial motion sensor coupled to a first covering and a second inertial motion sensor coupled to a second foot covering.
39. The system of claim 36 , further comprising:
at least one motion sensing device in communication with a processing unit and configured to detect and track motion within the platform.
40. The system of claim 39 , wherein the at least one motion sensing device is disposed in at least one of the platform, a controller, or a display device.