Spatial Recognition Performance Tests Using Omni-directional Infinite Surface

这项研究使用一种新的移动界面在虚拟空间中行走，对导航性能进行了实验。虽然步行是最直观的运动方式，但在大多数虚拟环境应用中，步行不提供本体感觉反馈。我们开发了一种由致动器驱动的无限表面，以实现行走的感觉。运动界面的实现采用了环面曲面。该设备使用了12套跑步机。这些跑步机是并排连接的，并沿垂直方向驱动。通过跑步机的运动生成虚拟无限表面。当步行者在现实世界中的位置是固定的时，他/她可以向任何方向走。这个装置被命名为“Torus跑步机”。导航性能通过路径再现测试来测量。受试者沉浸在一个虚拟的草地覆盖的平原上，上面放置了一个圆锥形的目标物体。受试者首先行进到目标对象。在到达目标物体后，目标物体消失了，返回者被要求返回到目标物体放置的地方。我们还设置了两个目标对象，对象沿着弯曲的路径行进。我们比较了两种运动模式：在Torus跑步机上行走和纯操纵杆操作。弯曲路径实验结果表明，圆环跑步机模式的路径再现精度优于操纵杆模式。

This research executed experiments regarding navigation performance using a new locomotion interface for walking through virtual space. Although traveling on foot is the most intuitive style of locomotion, proprioceptive feedback from walking is not provided in most applications of virtual environments. We developed an infinite surface driven by actuators for enabling a sense of walking. Torus-shaped surfaces are selected to realize the locomotion interface. The device employs twelve sets of treadmills. These treadmills are connected side-by-side and driven in perpendicular directions. The virtual infinite surface is generated by the motion of the treadmills. A walker can go in any direction while his/her position is fixed in the real world. The device is named "Torus Treadmill." Navigation performance was measured by path reproduction tests. Subjects were immersed in a virtual grass-covered plain on which a cone-shaped target object was placed. The subjects first traveled to the target object. After they reached it, the target object disappeared and the rehomed subjects were asked to return to the place where the target object was placed. We also set two target objects and the subject traveled along a bent path. We compared two locomotion modes : walking on the Torus Treadmill and moving purely by joystick operation. The results of the bent path experiment showed that accuracy of path reproduction of Torus Treadmill mode is better than that of Joystick mode.