Interactive virtual running

• Grant number: 06/04000-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: October 01, 2008
• End date: March 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Industrial Electronics, Electronic Systems and Controls
• Principal Investigator: Irene Karaguilla Ficheman
• Grantee: Irene Karaguilla Ficheman
• Company: Quality Performance Comércio e Serviços de Informática Ltda
• City: São Paulo

Abstract

At the end of the 90 's and beginning of the XXI century there was a huge growth in sports practitioners, specially street race runners, due to factors like low cost, flexible schedule for training and fast results. Many of these runners practice in treadmills. However, this kind of training is boring because it is practiced in a closed environment and does not simulate real tracks.On the other hand they can be used in any weather conditions and they prevent injuries because of its cushion system. Advanced simulation and Virtual Reality technologies can be used to simulate racing tracks which, synchronized to treadmills and a projection system can trigger various athletes' sensations an stimulate the athletes senses given an immersive illusion of being in the scenery that is projected while maintaining all benefits the exercise promotes. The speed control, inclination contral and interactivity depend on technologies that modjfy the motion dynamics. Therefore it is important to develop a device that allows interaction between the runner and the virtual environment keeping all the parameters for a better performance. The Interactive Virtual Running is an innovating immersive system in Virtual Reality containing a race simulation software, a treadmill control system, a projection system and an interaction system (a pair of direction and speed controls). With this system, runners will be able to train in an environment that recreates and simulates real track, while controlling the speed and direction of the track. (AU)