KAT’s second-generation omnidirectional treadmill is tailored for VR arcades and Industry training applications.
When it comes to omnidirectional treadmills, KAT VR has been one of the leaders in the industry. The company offers multiple versions of its artificial locomotion solution designed for consumer, professional, and enterprise use.
This month the company announced the next iteration of its VR treadmill, the KAT Walk Mini S. This second-generation treadmill is tailored specifically for VR arcades and industry training applications and features enhanced walking technology with haptic feedback that promises to make your movement feel more natural in VR.
This level of immersion is achieved using unique vibration modules built directly into the platform of the KAT Walk Mini S. This enables you to feel things in the virtual world, such as the recoil of a gunshot, the blast of an explosion, the rumble of a car whizzing past you, earthquakes, or any other type of vibration you might experience in a real-world scenario.
The system also offers a higher range of actions, including the ability to sprint, quickly back up, or easily turn around to escape zombies in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners or battle robots in Robo Recall. There’s also the newly dedicated control center, which uses an integrated cable management system designed to keep you moving freely and deliver an overall better VR experience.
The omnidirectional treadmill itself can also be customized using special software that will let you change the haptics depending on your needs or personal preference. If you want to really feel the ground under your feet rattle, crank up the haptics through the Control Center. For a less intense experience, just dial back the feedback to a slight rumble.
KAT VR also took into account the user learning curve through a re-optimized walking base so that the ergonomics of the KAT Walk Mini S will support the biomechanical pattern of your own natural gait, which in turn enhances your VR treadmill experience.
The Mini S comes with KAT VR’s quick-boarding shoe covers so that you can wear your own shoes while operating the device and still be able to track your feet movements. You can also use the companies new dedicated shoes that are optimized for movement in VR and will give you 4 adjustable levels of friction.
You’ll also get a higher range of actions through an additional pitch DOF in the waist area. This allows you to jump, bend over, squat, and kneel down.
I talked with VR enthusiast and Robo Recall fan, Eliza Pelech, about her thoughts on the KAT Walk Mini S, with Pelech telling me, “I think it would be so cool to be able to actually have all that movement while in VR. I bought an Oculus Rift when they first came out and I’m loving how the technology keeps getting better. It’s no longer a headset and hand controller,” Pelech cheekily adds, “I love that I can now run away from danger in real life and now in VR!”
KAT VR treadmills have been used in multiple industries since the company’s launch with over 80 professional projects around the globe now using its omnidirectional treadmills to train individuals for disaster prevention, city traffic planning, construction, railway maintenance, and mall evacuation just to name a few. The company also offers a line of consumer-based treadmills that can easily fit into the corner of a room or office, perfect for VR gamers looking to take their immersive experiences to the next level.
For more information about KAT VR and the KAT Walk Mini S, visit the company’s website.
Feature Image Credit: KAT VR
