Robot Floor Tiles Move Beneath Your Feet

The Robot Tiles provide an infinite walkway that might have applications in virtual reality. Credit: Hiroo Iwata.

(PhysOrg.com) -- In a stroke of odd creativity, Japanese researchers have created robotic blocks that automatically detect where you're walking and position themselves in front of you before you take your next step. As a system, the blocks create an infinite walking surface, acting somewhat like moving stones as you cross an invisible creek.

   

• DozerIAm - Sep 22, 2009
  • Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
  hmm, this concept gets used in scifi movies all the time, I recall seeing it used in an episode of "Eureka" a couple of weeks ago. But real world application? Pretty limited. Still... its cool.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• antialias - Sep 22, 2009
  • Rank: 4 / 5 (2)
  Take a number of these, make them floatable and walk on water.
  
  Could be used as an impromptu bridge where premanently constructed bridges are not advisable (e.g. for aesthetic reasons) and where a ferry would be overkill.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• MenaceSan - Sep 22, 2009
  • Rank: 3 / 5 (1)
  reminds me of the omni-direction treadmill
  http://www.youtub...1tsgrJOs
  Neet stuff, i want one.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• meeker - Sep 22, 2009
  • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
  I've seen this before and although I applaud the attempt, I don't think it'll become much of anything. The only way virtual reality would really work is to have nano-computers installed directly into our brains, which they are working on.
  
  This idea is okay (same with the omni-treadmill, and a sphere, I've seen), but people are going to be doing so many things in VR that you need to look out for their safety first. People in VR are going to be running, jumping, falling, etc. If there were thousands of these on a much smaller scale and being much faster, then maybe ... but VR of the mind is still an easier way to go.
  
  I can see something like this in perhaps an arcade or amusement park in the next decade for a limited run, but not really for home use.
  
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• Going - Sep 23, 2009
  • Rank: not rated yet
  Robotic servants that anticipate our needs by sensing our intentions and then providing them in real time. This symbolizes the future of robotics, I love it.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• CreepyD - Sep 23, 2009
  • Rank: not rated yet
  The omni-treadmill thing looked a lot better suited to VR applications. This looks rather pointless at the moment, even though it looks cool.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• otto1923 - Sep 23, 2009
  • Rank: not rated yet
  Good for sleepwalkers? Keep them from going anywhere-
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• docknowledge - Sep 27, 2009
  • Rank: 3 / 5 (1)
  Something like this is needed for 3D virtual environments.
  
  The experimenters are rather limiting their vision in accord to their funding. If the blocks move too slowly, just add more blocks.
  
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5