User control of simulated locomotion
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorJames N. Templeman
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for interfacing locomotive 3D movements of a user to a reference in a virtual or remote environment are provided. Initially, a 3D motion of a body portion of a user is sensed as the user takes a gestural pace. This sensing includes the determining of a beginning and an end of the gestural pace taken by the user, the determining of a 3D direction characteristic of the body portion motion during the gestural pace, and the determining of a 3D extent characteristic of the body portion motion during the gestural pace. Next, a 3D direction and extent of motion in the environment corresponding to the determined direction and extent characteristics of the gestural pace is computed. Finally, the computed 3D motion is used to move the reference in the environment.
Claims23
A method for interfacing locomotive 3D movements of a user to a reference in a virtual or remote environment comprising the steps of:
- sensing a 3D motion of a body portion of a user as the user takes a gestural pace, said sensing step including the steps of
- determining a beginning and an end of the gestural pace taken by the user,
- determining a 3D direction characteristic of an initial horizontal motion of the body portion during the gestural pace, and
- determining a 3D extent characteristic of a return horizontal motion of the body portion during the gestural pace;
- computing a 3D direction and extent of motion in the environment corresponding to the determined direction and extent characteristics of the gestural pace;
- and
- using the computed 3D motion to move the reference in the environment.
A method for interfacing locomotive 3D movements of a user to a reference in a virtual or remote environment comprising the steps of:
- sensing a 3D motion of a knee of a user as the user takes a gestural pace, said sensing step including the steps of
- determining a beginning and an end of the gestural pace taken by the user,
- determining a 3D direction characteristic of an initial horizontal motion of the knee during the gestural pace, and
- determining a 3D extent characteristic of a return horizontal motion of the knee during the gestural pace;
- computing a 3D direction and extent of motion in the environment corresponding to the determined direction and extent characteristics of the gestural pace;
- and
- using the computed 3D motion to move the reference in the environment.
An apparatus for interfacing locomotive 3D movements of a user to a reference in a virtual or remote environment comprising:
- a sensing system which senses a 3D motion of a body portion of a user as the user takes a gestural pace, said sensing system including
- a first means for determining a beginning and an end of the gestural pace taken by the user,
- a second means for determining a 3D direction characteristic of an initial horizontal motion of the body portion during the gestural pace, and
- a third means for determining a 3D extent characteristic of a return horizontal motion of the body portion during the gestural pace;
- a computer which computes a 3D direction and extent of motion in the environment corresponding to the determined direction and extent characteristics of the gestural pace;
- and
- an interface which uses the computed 3D motion to move the reference in the environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.