Gait Intention Analysis for Controlling Virtual Reality Walking Platforms

Simple human gait can be difficult, unfeasible and not always practical in Virtual Reality, because of spatial and technological limitations. For 3D virtual environment travelling, different walking platforms have been developed in the last few years, but navigation using most of them is far from bringing naturalness to the user’s movements. Users sometimes are unsecure and they are trying to adapt and to correct any irregularities they feel. Our research is focused on specific walking patterns that characterize the intention of walking: starting walking with a certain speed, maintaining a desired speed, accelerated walking, decelerated walking, stopping. In laboratory conditions, using a motion capturing system, these behaviors were reproduced, measured and analyzed.