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mechanical, lower-cost. omnidirectional locomotion.
(a concept.)
Say we tried to take two steps forward,
first with our ‘free-foot’, and then another with our ‘anchored-foot’.
#1 : Free-Foot Step Forward
#2 : Anchored-Foot Step Forward
This is very much the walking we’re used to. The free-foot moves infront of the anchored-foot, just like a traditional walking step.
When the anchored-foot attempts to move forwards, it can still travel vertically as the user lifts the foot to step forward, but the actual horizontal travel is pushed onto the other foot, the contraints of the anchored-foot exerting a force on the only free-moving point, the free-foot, pushing it backwards on it’s low-friction pads, helped initially by the sloped edges.
The walking motion is the same, but one foot always
remains horizontally fixed, and everything else moves around it.
“two steps forward, one step back”
Few unique parts, almost entirely simple mechanical elements for easier manafacture.
3 low-friction mat
wedges.
Rotating, spring-loaded telescopic rod allows
0.5m of semi-weightless vertical travel
and 360 rotation (3-stage, 2/3rd extension).
Disengages from foot under
unsafe stress.
Fold-out internal ribbing
joined through foldable fabric,
easy radial fan-out for
structual support.
Adjustable foot-pads & trackers,
(anchor-foot can be switched based on foot-preference)
Wedge approximate length -
0.7m
The ‘trackpadVR’ is a personal project that tries to circumvent the issues of perpetual ‘in-place’ locomotion , by leveraging the forces created by asymmetric foot movement.
The user, wearing well-fitting shoes, straps into the adjustable foot-pads; one that fits normally, and another that's fixed to the centre on a telecopic rod.
Start
unplugged.
More casual, candid development diary for this project coming soon!
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