METHOD OF CONTROLLING A DEVICE ALLOWING A USER TO WALK OR RUN ON THE SPOT IN AN ARBITRARY DIRECTION AND DEVICE THEREFOR

摘要

The invention concerns a method for controlling a device (1) allowing a user (25) to walk or run on the spot in an arbitrary direction and a device (1) therefor. The device (1) comprises a stationary central platform (9) surrounded by a convex polygon shaped deck (6) in level therewith, said deck (6) being divided into trapezoid shaped roller conveyors. Each conveyor has rollers in parallel with the trapezoid bases, the shorter one of these adjoining said platform and the longer one of these forming a side of said polygonal shape. The rollers of said conveyors are driven in order to move a user (25) stepping thereon back to said central platform (9). The rollers as such are continuous circular cylindrical, and beneath them there is a driving belt for frictional driving engagement with the rollers from below. According to the method a marker (26) placed on top of the user (25) is monitored by means of video cameras (24) and the speed of the roller conveyors adjusted depending on the perceived marker size and position.

主权项

1. A method of controlling a device allowing a user to walk or run on the spot in an arbitrary direction, the device comprising a stationary central platform surrounded by a convex polygon shaped deck in level therewith, said deck being divided into trapezoid shaped roller conveyors, wherein each conveyor has rollers in parallel with the trapezoid bases, the shorter one of these adjoining said platform and the longer one of these forming a side of said polygonal shape, and wherein the rollers of said conveyors are driven in order to move a user stepping thereon back to said central platform,wherein the method comprises the following steps:
mounting a plurality of video cameras above the device on a height well above a user thereof, said cameras being arranged in a defined matrix and directed downwardly; providing a direction indicating marker on top of said user, monitoring the position and size of said marker by means of said cameras; controlling the speed of the roller conveyors depending on said marker's distance from said central platform as seen from above by said cameras at an elevated speed when said distance is large and at a lower speed when said distance is small; and halting the roller conveyors when said distance is nil.