From: Ola Fosheim Groestad <olag@ifi.uio.no>
Subject: Re: TECH: Walking in VR?
Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 12:12:07 +0200
Organization: Nei!


Carl Mueller wrote:
> Ola Fosheim Groestad <olag@ifi.uio.no> wrote:
> >Carl Mueller wrote:
> >> If one wants a non-enclosed, non-super-tall walking machine, then
> >> one must invent something similar to an escalator, but flat (like
> >> those accelerated walkways in airports) and able to operate in two
> >> dimensions (obviously the tricky part).  Again, if it is to be flat,
> >
> >Actually, I don't think it's all that hard. Imagine a steel loop
> >(wheel-like) covered with "ball bearings"/"rollerballs". Cover this
> >completely with a flexible rubbertube with built in fibres for
> >stability.  Use wheels to move the bidirectional walkway.  It would be
> >expensive though, and you still have to deal with other problems.
> 
> I find it a bit difficult to visualize what you say, but it sounds

Ok, these are the components:

1. metal torus completely covered with rollerballs:

                  surface
                /
      **************
    *************** *
  **************** **
 **   hole       ***
 **              ** 
  ****************

2. rubbertube with builtin fibres for stability that form a complete
   surface for the metal torus.

3. A bed in which the metal torus is held in place by wheels:

  /O****************O\ 
 |O**   O O O O O  **O|
 |O**  O O O O O O **O|
  \O****************O/
   \ O O O O O O O  /
    ---------------

*    = metal torus with rubber surface tube mounted
O    = bidirectional motorized wheels or rollerballs
-\|/ = metal bed that the wheels (O) are mounted on.

Good luck :*)

(C)opyright 1996 Ola Fosheim Grxstad.