Implementation of Wireless Input Methods (Game Controllers and Accelerometers) for Simulated Weapon Trigger Fire in the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN)
Abstract
The Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system located at the Naval Health Research Center is an immersive virtual environment and motion analysis laboratory designed for interactive rehabilitation and research of human performance in a controlled and repeatable environment. The DoD uses the CAREN system for clinical rehabilitation and research at three locations: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence. The Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) also houses a CAREN system, with the primary purpose of conducting research for the advancement of treatment and rehabilitation practices in the CAREN and other interactive environments. NHRC creates and tests accelerated rehabilitation programs, and conducts physical and cognitive performance testing under virtual conditions relevant to the warfighter. The CAREN requires control software in order to manipulate and monitor the hardware components, activate events, record information, and create virtual scenarios. The CAREN D-Flow control software (Motek Medical BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) allows the operator to create, modify, and operate virtual scenarios. It incorporates different modules from which to manipulate and monitor the hardware components, activate events, and record information. The CAREN system at NHRC was originally provided with a plastic rifle that could simulate weapon fire onto the screen while submerged in this virtual environment. The trigger for this weapon has a switch wired to a simple wireless presentation remote in order to communicate with the CAREN D-Flow control software. Although somewhat effective, this simulated weapon style and trigger fire method were neither realistic nor durable enough for repeated use in this type of virtual environment. In order to solve this problem, both the weapon and the method of wireless trigger fire communication needed to be improved.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 22, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA624944
Entities
People
- Delwin Johnson
- Harvey M. Edwards Iii
- Pinata Sessoms
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center