I-Corps: Nullspace: Full-Body Haptic Feedback for Virtual Reality

该项目涉及一项创新，支持虚拟现实系统中完整的上半身表示。目前形式的虚拟现实（VR）缺乏用于上肢触觉反馈和跟踪的产品。当接触虚拟物体和环境时，触觉反馈的需求被认为是一个未满足的空白。这个项目的“NullSpace”VR系统是一套用于虚拟现实的全上身触觉反馈套装，使用内置跟踪系统和可编程振动垫，这些振动垫放置在身体周围的肌肉群以及手上和手指上。当用户进入VR体验时，跟踪系统会准确地将动作映射到虚拟空间中；然后，当用户与虚拟物体和障碍物互动时，振动垫就会激活，提供触觉。NullSpace适用于虚拟现实（VR）和增强现实（AR）在模拟和游戏场景中的用户，包括寻求使创伤后应激障碍沉浸式治疗和恐惧症治疗更有效的方法的研究人员和医疗专业人员，或需要精确模拟训练目的的项目，如宇航员任务训练，飞行模拟和医疗程序训练。NullSpace系统的另一个潜在用户群体是对交互式虚拟现实感兴趣并希望在虚拟体验中获得额外控制和反馈能力的玩家。使用标准耳机硬件的虚拟现实游戏无法跟踪手臂和身体，并将它们作为玩家的化身，在虚拟空间中产生一种没有四肢和无形的视觉效果。触觉系统的原型已经开发出来，并已在私人展示活动中向用户展示，但该套装将需要大量的用户需求寻找和测试，以专注于商业化空间。在I-Corps项目期间，该团队计划通过面向市场的面试来重点寻找需求。

This project involves an innovation that supports full upper-body representation in Virtual Reality systems.Virtual Reality (VR) in its current form lacks products for upper body haptic feedback and tracking. The need for haptic feedback when contacting virtual objects and environments is recognized as an unmet void. This project's "NullSpace" VR system is a full upper body haptic feedback suit for virtual reality, using a built-in tracking system and programmable vibrating pads placed on muscle groups around the body and on the hands and fingers. When a user enters a VR experience, the tracking system accurately maps motions into the virtual space; then, as the user interacts with virtual objects and obstacles, the vibrating pads activate to provide a sense of touch.NullSpace is appropriate for users of both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in simulation and gaming scenarios including researchers and medical professionals seeking ways to make PTSD Immersion Therapy and phobia treatment more effective, or projects requiring accurate simulation for training purposes, such as astronaut task training, flight simulation, and medical procedure training. Another potential user population of the NullSpace system are gamers who are interested in interactive virtual reality and desire additional control and feedback capability in their virtual experiences. Virtual reality games using standard headset hardware cannot track the arms and body and represent them as a player avatar, creating a disorienting visual effect of being limbless and incorporeal while in the virtual space.A prototype of the haptic system has been developed, and has been demonstrated to users at private display events, but the suit will require significant user need finding and testing to focus on the commercialization space. For the duration of the I-Corps program, the team plans to focus on need finding through market-oriented interviews.