Schmidt, D., Kovacs, R., Mehta, V., Umapathi, U., Köhler, S., Cheng, L.P. and Baudisch, P., 2015, April. Level-ups: Motorized stilts that simulate stair steps in virtual reality. In Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 2157-2160). ACM.
We present “Level-Ups”, computer-controlled stilts that allow virtual reality users to experience walking up and down steps. Each Level-Up unit is a self-contained device worn like a boot. Its main functional element is a vertical actuation mechanism mounted to the bottom of the boot that extends vertically. Unlike traditional solutions that are integrated with locomotion devices, Level-Ups allow users to walk around freely (“real-walking”). We present Level-Ups in a demo environment based on a head-mounted display, optical motion capture, and integrated with two different game engines. In a user study, participants rated the realism of stepping onto objects 6.0 out of 7.0 when wearing Level-Ups compared to 3.5 without.
Prototypes built
An iterative process of brainstroming, physical prototyping and feedback was followed. Various prototypes were developed including: paper, telescopic-pipe-based, stilts-based, swissboy-based and combinations.
Telescopic Construction
1. Paper Prototypes
2. Prototype with 2 connectors on the inner and outer cylinder
3. Prototype with 3 connectors (circular) on the inner and outer cylinder
4. Telescopic prototype with solenoid locking
Stilts with Gas Springs / Linear Actuators
1. Paper prototype for gas spring with solenoid locking
2. Paper prototype for gas spring placement
3. (a) Stilts 2 gas springs/cylinders. (b) Stilts with 3 pipes. (c) Stilts with central lock and 2 dampeners (gas springs) of 50N
4. Stilts with linear actuator and 2 dampeners (gas springs) of 50 N each
Boots with Scissors Platform
1. Paper prototype for scissor mechanism
2. Stilts and scissor
3. Boot with scissor platform – first prototype
4. ‘Boot with scissor’ prototype on one leg and a place holder on the other