- Number
- 10228758
- Published
- 2019-03-12
- Filed
- 2016-05-20
- Assignee
- DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
- Inventors
- Smoot; Lanny S., Sung; Cynthia Rueyi
- CPC
- G06F3/011; G06F3/016
- Verdict
- High Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Multi-directional multi-person walking VR floor (Smoot watchlist).
Abstract
A motion system for moving objects in a space, e.g., for moving virtual reality (VR) participants about space used to provide a VR environment. The system includes a controller and a position monitoring assembly. The system has a modular floor including a plurality of tile assemblies defining a support surface for a first and a second object. Each of the tile assemblies includes: (a) a planar tile with an upper surface for supporting the first and second objects; and (b) a drive system. The drive system includes a vibration-inducing assembly operable to oscillate the planar tile in a horizontal plane and further includes a preferential friction assembly operable to selectively reduce friction between the upper surface and any supported object. The controller generates control signals, based on position information, to independently control the tile assemblies of the modular floor to move the first and second objects on the support surface.
Background
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to providing mobility to people in a virtual reality (VR) environment, and, more particularly, to a system (and corresponding control method) configured to allow multiple participants in a VR environment to have the sensation of moving (e.g., walking) about the space in any direction and for unlimited distances without collisions with the other moving participants, with objects in the space, and/or with physical borders of the space.2. Relevant Background(2) Virtual reality (VR), which is also known as augmented reality, immersive multimedia, and computer-simulated reality, is a computer technology that replicates a real or imagined environment and simulates a user's presence in the environment in a way that allows the user to interact with the environment. VR systems can create environments that artificially create a variety of sensory experiences such as sight, sound, and even touch (e.g., through haptic feedback devices) and smell in some cases. Most VR systems include a special VR headset with additional simulations to provide sensory information in addition to visual input such as sound and air movement.(3) VR environments can be quite detailed and immersive with present technologies and control techniques, but there remain a number of challenges for the designers of new VR systems. For example, designers of VR systems often aspire to provide a VR environment like science fiction models
Claims
1. A motion system for moving objects in a space, comprising: a motion system controller; a position monitoring assembly; and a modular floor comprising a plurality of tile assemblies defining a support surface for a first and a second object, wherein each of the tile assemblies comprises a planar tile with an upper surface for supporting the first and second objects and a drive system with a vibration-inducing assembly operable to oscillate the planar tile in a horizontal plane and with a preferential friction assembly operable to selectively reduce friction between the upper surface and any object supported upon the upper surface, wherein the motion system controller generates control signals, based on position information for the first and second objects from the position monitoring assembly, to independently control operation of the tile assemblies of the modular floor to move the first and second objects on the support surface with first and second motions, respectively, with the second motion differing from the first motion at least periodically during the control operation, wherein the control operation comprises assigning first and second sets of two or more of the planar tiles to each of the first and second objects, respectively, to impart the first and second motions, wherein all of the planar tiles in the first set of the planar tiles and all of the planar tiles in the second set of the planar tiles are concurrently operated in a like manner, wherein the preferential friction assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers positioned on the upper surface of the planar tile, wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers provides vertical support of the first and second objects and, for each of the planar tiles, are disposed between the upper surface and the first and second objects, and wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers in each of the tile assemblies oscillate with the planar tile with operations of the vibration-inducing assembly.
6. A motion system for moving objects in a space, comprising: a motion system controller; a position monitoring assembly; and a modular floor comprising a plurality of tile assemblies defining a support surface for a first and a second object, wherein each of the tile assemblies comprises a planar tile with an upper surface for supporting the first and second objects and a drive system with a vibration-inducing assembly operable to oscillate the planar tile in a horizontal plane and with a preferential friction assembly operable to selectively reduce friction between the upper surface and any object supported upon the upper surface, wherein the motion system controller generates control signals, based on position information for the first and second objects from the position monitoring assembly, to independently control operation of the tile assemblies of the modular floor to move the first and second objects on the support surface with first and second motions, respectively, with the second motion differing from the first motion at least periodically during the control operation, wherein the control operation comprises assigning first and second sets of two or more of the planar tiles to each of the first and second objects, respectively, to impart the first and second motions, wherein the planar tiles in the first set of the planar tiles and the planar tiles in the second set of the planar tiles are concurrently operated in a like manner, wherein the preferential friction assembly comprises an array of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers provided on or in the first and second objects, whereby in each of the first and second objects the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are positioned proximate to the upper surfaces of the tiles when the first and second objects supported on the support surface, and wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers operate in response to the control signals to vibrate the first and second objects relative to the support surface.
11. A motion system for moving objects in a space, comprising: a motion system controller; a position monitoring assembly; and a modular floor comprising a plurality of tile assemblies defining a support surface for a first and a second object, wherein each of the tile assemblies comprises a planar tile with an upper surface for supporting the first and second objects and a drive system with a vibration-inducing assembly operable to oscillate the planar tile in a horizontal plane and with a preferential friction assembly operable to selectively reduce friction between the upper surface and any object supported upon the upper surface concurrently with the operation of the vibration-inducing assembly to oscillate the planar tile in the horizontal plane, wherein the motion system controller generates control signals, based on position information for the first and second objects from the position monitoring assembly, to independently control operation of the tile assemblies of the modular floor to move the first and second objects on the support surface with first and second motions, respectively, with the second motion differing from the first motion at least once during the control operation, wherein the control operation comprises assigning first and second sets of two or more of the planar tiles to each of the first and second objects, respectively, to impart the first and second motions, wherein all of the planar tiles in the first set of the planar tiles and all of the planar tiles in the second set of the planar tiles are concurrently operated in a like manner, and wherein the preferential friction assembly comprises an actuator vibrating the planar tile to move the upper surface orthogonal to the horizontal plane of the planar tile in the Z direction.
16. A virtual reality (VR) system, comprising: a space defined by a wall; and a VR floor adjoining the wall and comprising a plurality of active tiles, wherein each of the active tiles includes: a plate with an upper surface and a lower surface; a drive system coupled to the lower surface and operable to selectively oscillate the plate in one of two transverse directions; and a preferential friction assembly selectively reducing friction between the upper surface and an object positioned upon the upper surface, wherein the preferential friction assembly comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers positioned on the upper surface of the plate to support the object when it is positioned upon the upper surface and to be disposed between the upper surface and the object, an array of ultrasonic transducers on a surface of the object abutting the upper surface, or an actuator vibrating the plate to move the upper surface in the Z direction concurrently with the operation of the drive system, further comprising a controller independently operating the active tiles to move first and second VR participants in the space along one or more travel paths, wherein the controller controls operation of the active tiles, in first and second sets of the active tiles each assigned, respectively, to one of the first and second VR participants during each operating period, to move the first and second VR participants on the support surface with first and second motions, respectively, with the second motion differing from the first motion at least in some of the operating periods, and wherein all of the active tiles in the first set of the active tiles and all of the active tiles in the second set of the active tiles are concurrently operated in a like manner.