Development and Prototyping of an Omnidirectional Treadmill for Virtual Reality Environments

Stride Industries LTD are developing the Step One. The Step One is an Omnidirectional Treadmill (ODT) intended for use in Virtual Reality Environments (VR). The XR industry is rapidly growing with an expected valuation of $165.91 Billion by 2030, and a CAGR of 30%.

An ODT is similar to a conventional treadmill that allows for infinite walking space, however, unlike a conventional treadmill you can turn and walk in any direction. This means that in a virtual world you will no longer have to use a joystick to control movement, but instead walk in real life as your steps are translated into the virtual world.

The XR (Extended Reality) market has seen two foreign companies create these omnidirectional treadmills. However, the Step One has some key advantages. Current ODTs, require the use of specialised shoes, therefore, limiting the product to one user. The Step One has a built-in tracking solution, so no specialised shoes are required.

The Step One has use within the entertainment, design, educational, and medical industries, for a variety of recreational, productive, and rehabilitative purposes.