Advanced Virtual Reality Positional Tracking Technology Tracks ‘Out of View’ Movement

JANUS Research Group has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering design methods for positional tracking in virtual reality and training systems.

The technology helps simplify and mobilize virtual training systems setup procedures, track movement that is out of view during training, and better train learners on interactive activities within virtual environments.

Current virtual reality systems allow for computer-generated interactive experiences that occur within controlled environments. Commonly, virtual reality technology uses headsets or multi-projected environments, sometimes in combination with physical environments, to generate realistic images, sounds, and other sensations that simulate a user’s physical presence in a virtual environment. While this technology has been generally effective, the complexity of the wiring, the need for a high-speed way to interconnect sensors, and requirements to hold training in controlled environments have become increasingly problematic.

The innovative technology created by JANUS’ Joseph S. Martin and Rodney Roeber takes haptic training and feedback to a new level for users. For example, by applying this patented technology, helicopter pilots being trained virtually could reach above or behind their heads to interact with cockpit components despite their hands exiting the virtual training system’s effective field of view. JANUS’ patented approach provides tactile feedback and incorporates a wearable virtual reality tracking device that reduces complexity of the wiring by minimizing plug in requirements to one connector per hand. The system drastically simplifies the set-up, possesses higher precision tracking and fidelity, and gets the technology out of a controlled environment.