Recently, a company called Kinerse launched a new VR motion simulator, mainly with the help of its human design, without the need for an external power supply. Instead of relying on motors or other electronic components, physical motion is simulated through a simple lever system.
It is understood that the VR motion simulator is completely open source, which means that anyone can download the project file and start making their own modifications. Kinerse hopes to encourage users to improve and help refine the design of the motion simulator by making its design public. Designers can even sell their work without worrying about legal action by the company.
The design of the VR motion simulator is very simple, the user sits on a flat base equipped with two large levers, and by pulling back and forth on these controls, the user can adjust its direction (pitch and roll), and the handle can be used to identify the user's position relationship with the simulator. While the current iteration only supports 2DoF (degrees of freedom), the company hopes to eventually offer 3DoF capabilities (pitch, scroll, and yaw) to provide a more realistic experience.
Obviously, a motion simulator with such a unique design will support a very limited number of VR games and applications. To demonstrate how it uses human motion simulation, Kinerse has developed its own original VR game, Andromeda Sports, which is currently launched on Meta Quest 2, a fast-paced racing experience that allows users to navigate future environments using their hoverboards.
It is reported that the "Andromeda Sports" game contains MIX mode, ASYNCH ONLINE mode and other gameplay, the mode combines the track, creating unlimited possibilities. Users can also play asynchronously against other players in ASYNCH ONLINE mode.
Going forward, Kinerse hopes its open-source human motion simulator will be adapted to a wider range of games and applications, and the device is still in the early stages of development. As a result, the company's passive motion platform may not be suitable for all body sizes and sizes. The device is currently only available for Meta Quest 2 headsets, but Kinerse says it wants to expand to other VR platforms.
Is Human Motion Simulator the Future of VR?