Exertion-aware path generation
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12102910-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-01
Expiration Date
2041-06-24
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Abstract
Technologies are provided for generation of exertion-aware paths. Some embodiments include a computing system that can generate a path based at least on first data defining a terrain, second data defining a target level of total work, and third data defining a target level of perceived difficulty. The computing system also can generate a road surface along the path. Generating the road includes embedding metadata defining position-dependent resistance forces based on a physics model, the metadata controlling force feedback at virtual-reality equipment. The computing system also can supply the road surface to the virtual-reality equipment.
Core Innovation
The invention provides technologies for generating exertion-aware paths for virtual reality (VR) exergaming. A computing system generates a path using input data that defines a terrain, a target level of total work, and a target level of perceived difficulty. The generated path lies on the terrain and accounts for exertion and perception aspects of virtual training, allowing users to achieve specific exercise goals while navigating the path in a virtual environment.
The core problem addressed involves the lack of haptic properties in conventional virtual content, which are mainly designed for visual purposes without considering force feedback. Existing exergame paths are typically created manually, which is time-consuming and does not optimize for exertion goals or perceived difficulty. This invention automatically generates exertion-aware paths that satisfy user-specified exertion goals, such as total work and path difficulty, and embeds these paths into VR environments with realistic force feedback.
The system further generates a road surface along the path, embedding metadata that defines position-dependent resistance forces based on a physics model. This metadata controls force feedback at the VR equipment, such as a VR bike, ensuring that the user's haptic experience matches their visual perception as they traverse the path. The computing system supplies the generated road surface with associated metadata to virtual-reality equipment, allowing users to experience immersive, goal-driven exergames with explicit control over exertion properties.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes four independent claims covering a computing system, a computer-implemented method, and a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, each with key inventive features.
Computing system for exertion-aware path and road surface generation
A computing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device with instructions that: - Generate a path based at least on first data defining a terrain, second data defining a target level of total work, and third data defining a target level of perceived difficulty. - Generate a road surface along the path, embedding metadata that defines position-dependent resistance forces based on a physics model, where the metadata controls force feedback at virtual-reality equipment. - Supply the road surface to the virtual-reality equipment.
Computer-implemented method for exertion-aware path and road surface generation
A method comprising: - Generating, by a computing system, a path based at least on data defining a terrain, a target level of total work, and a target level of perceived difficulty. - Generating a road surface along the path, including embedding metadata defining position-dependent resistance forces based on a physics model, with the metadata controlling force feedback at virtual-reality equipment. - Supplying the road surface to the virtual-reality equipment.
Computer-readable non-transitory storage medium for exertion-aware path and road surface generation
A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium encoding instructions that, when executed, cause a computing system to: - Generate a path based at least on data defining a terrain, a target level of total work, and a target level of perceived difficulty. - Generate a road surface along the path with metadata defining position-dependent resistance forces based on a physics model, the metadata controlling force feedback at virtual-reality equipment. - Supply the road surface to virtual-reality equipment.
Optimization-based path generation with exertion and difficulty constraints
Generating an exertion-aware path by determining a solution to an optimization problem based at least on the target level of total work and the target level of perceived difficulty. The optimization may include iterative updating of an initial path until a termination criterion is met, with the ability to refine the path using spatial transformations and accept new paths based on a Metropolis criterion involving cost function evaluation.
The independent claims provide broad protection for systems, methods, and products that generate exertion-aware paths and corresponding road surfaces—incorporating physics-based force metadata—for virtual-reality exergaming, with optimization based on total work and perceived difficulty.
Stated Advantages
Enables fast, scalable, and automatic generation of paths with desirable exertion effects, improving efficiency over manual exergame content creation.
Incorporates exertion and perception aspects—such as total work and perceived difficulty—as optimization terms in path generation for enhanced realism.
Considers physical interactions and force feedback, making the virtual training experience more realistic, immersive, and engaging.
Provides ample and explicit controls to designers to generate paths satisfying configurable constraints such as landmarks and obstacles.
Improves efficiency by solving exergame level design as an optimization problem, resulting in better use of computing resources like processing time and memory.
Documented Applications
Generation of exertion-aware biking paths for virtual reality bikes used in VR exergaming.
Application to other types of virtual-reality equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, rowing machines, and skiing simulators.
Design of virtual training content and exergames that allow users to achieve specific exertion goals such as energy expenditure and perceived difficulty.
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