Method for tracking and displaying a user's location and orientation in space, method for presenting a virtual environment to a user, and systems for implementing these methods

摘要

The invention relates to methods and systems for determining a user's position and orientation in space and for displaying virtual environment, and is applicable to interactive computer games, training systems of sportive, health improving or military designation. The invention increases accuracy and speed of tracking the user's position and orientation in space, provides for convenient and natural movements of the user and presents virtual environment in response to the user's movements in real environment. Sensors 4 for tracking an angular position of a user's locomotor system segment 2 are arranged proximate junctions 3 between the segments 2 and on some of the segments 2. Main reference direction determining means 5 is disposed on at least one of the segments 2 to determine an orientation of the segment with respect to reference directions. Information from the sensors 5, reference direction determining means 5 and, if appropriate, from means 8 for user's interaction with virtual environment objects is processed to determine a position and orientation in space of the user in general on the basis of values of angles between segments and the orientation of the main segment on which the reference direction determining means is located with respect to reference directions. The obtained data is employed to display the user's movements in real time or to present virtual environment to the user in accordance with his or her field of view changing in response to movements in real environment. IMAGE