INDEX
Assembly of the ROVR2 - starts below with ROVR2 Components & Assembly
Well-being in a Virtual World - easily read VR and neuroscience background plus HEALTH & SAFETY information
ROVR connection to PC
ROVR2 Components & Assembly
Packing List:
A 1x Base ring section (steel)
B 1x Handrail ring section (steel)
C 1x Left leg section (steel)
D 1x Right leg section (steel)
E 1x Closure gate (polymer)
F 1x ROVR Platform (polymer)
G 4x joint inserts (steel)
H 1x hex key 5mm (steel)
I 5x spring clips (steel) base ring to ROVR platform
J 2x spring clips (steel) closure gate to handrail
K 1x 100ml of ROVR Lube
L 1x Foam Mat
N 1 pair ROVR kick-on overshoes
P 1x 3.5mm Jack audio lead
Frame Assembly Images
Joint insert in tube end
Finally Step 4.
Place base-ring (A) on the floor and standing inside it, lift base-ring (A) offering one ring end with joint insert (G) into leg end. With one leg partially placed turn attention to the other joint and slide this in to place wriggle both base ring ends until the leg and ring ends butt. Replace the two remaining grub-screws and tighten all screws for handrail and base-ring firmly, particularly those on the base ring.
Frame Assembly Instructions
It is easiest to assemble the treadmill upside down, i.e., starting with the smaller handrail ring on the floor
Remove grub-screws from the 2x joint inserts (G) not the ones with with steel reinforcements marked “B” / “BASE”and slide joint inserts (G) into handrail (B) ends, replacing and gently tightening the grub screws to hold in place. Place handrail ring (B) on the floor, holes facing upwards.
Slide long tail of legs (C/D) onto joint inserts so top short tails point outwards i.e. towards a bigger circle. Replace 2nd grub-screws and semi-tighten.
Remove grub-screws from 2x remaining joint inserts (G) this time use the ones with steel reinforcements marked “B” / “BASE” and place joint inserts (G) into base-ring (A) ends (image 3 does not show this, but the image below 4 (far left) shows how the joint inserts should look). Replace and gently tighten grub screws to hold joint inserts (G) in place. Important slide 5x clips “I” onto base-ring “A” (see images to get orientation). If fully assembled and you find clips are the wrong way round, it is possible to prise them off and push them back on the right way round - but beware of fingers being pinched.
The 4x videos below show assembly of a ROVR2
Video 1 - Shows the application of joint inserts (G) and lightly tightening first grub-screw
Video 2 - Demonstrates joining two pieces of pipe together using a joint insert (G) and tightening the 2nd grub-screw
Video 3 - Shows orientation of clips “I” (with rubber feet (M)) and how the clips are applied to hold the ROVR platform
Video 4 - Shows orientation of Closure clips “J” and how they are applied.
Important points:
Tighten all grub-screws firmly to make the frame strong -
Remember to add the 5x "I" clips to the base ring before you attach the base ring to the legs
The polymer closure (E) has two "J" clips one for each side. One side/clip is used as a hinge and the other side as a removable lock.
Please let us know how you get on with assembly.
The 2x "J" clips can be added after the frame is built. Add a clip to both sides and use your preferred side to open and shut.
IMPORTANT: We recommend both clips are in place and locked when you are immersed in VR.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing in a Virtual World
Being comfortable in virtual reality:
During 1970's, thru '90s NASA and the DOD spent millions of dollars trying to find out what made helicopter and jet fighter pilots uncomfortable when using simulators. Their conclusion - the more expert you are at something the better you are at predicting what should happen next and if your prediction is not fulfilled then 80%+ of the population will feel uncomfortable.
For the most part we are all pretty expert at walking having done so since being toddlers. Walking is how we explore our world and make sense of it, our orientation and its size. So if in real life you’re seated but in VR you’re walking then you’re likely to feel uncomfortable because what you see does not match with what you feel.
A ROVR solves this “visual - vestibular mismatch” by providing necessary “brain” cues that our legs are moving which matches what we see in VR.
Visual and vestibular (inner ear) senses plus proprioception (position in our local world) and kinaesthetics (muscle memory), provides information to our brains about the position of our limbs and the extent to which we exert them and from all these inputs we deduce where we are, how far we have moved, where we are relative to a previous location and which direction we are facing.
ROVR stats.:
The ROVR platform is constructed from a high performance polymer, measures ~900mm (3ft) diameter by ~114mm (4.5”) high.
Combined with the ROVR platform is a VR containment frame 929mm (3ft) high, and the combination of; platform + frame + shoes weighs ~26Kg (57lbs) or ~45kgs (99lbs) for a ROVR-PRO
ROVR kick-on overshoes are unique designs especially created to enable ultra-low friction and ease of movement when walking on a ROVR. One size fits all.
HEALTH & SAFETY
USER GUIDANCE – this means you
Please read the guidance presented here with care and attention and heed warnings given below before using the ROVR, to reduce risk of personal injury, upset or damage to property.
PREPARING SPACE FOR THE ROVR
You are recommended to place the ROVR platform on a car-pet, in an area free from obstacles which might present a hazard when entering and leaving the platform, or swinging of your arms. If the ROVR is to be used on a hard floor such as tile, wood or linoleum, then we recommend the ROVR is placed on a slip resistant rug or thin rubber mat to prevent the ROVR from moving during use. A minimum requirement is a slip resistant mat for stepping into and out of the ROVR.
PUTTING ON ROVR OVERSHOES
ROVR Overshoes are designed to have ultra-low friction and will present a slip hazard if worn on hard flooring.
Even on carpet, ROVR shoes have low friction and could present a slip hazard.
ROVR VR CONTAINMENT FRAME
Users of the ROVR particularly when using Head Mounted Displays must use a VR containment frame.
A frame is useful to:
a) Assist in learning to move the legs without conscious thought, i.e. just as we do when walking in real life.
A frame is useful for:
b) Providing touch balance as might be required in the real world near a precipice.
(see he doesn’t want to stand near the edge with his hands in his pockets! …. Though he might just be cold)
A frame is useful because it:
c) Provides safe containment if a flight or fight instinctive response is provoked.
FRAME ASSEMBLY for ROVR-PRO and ROVR2
When assembling the VR containment frame ensure the frame fixings are tight and base is clipped to the frame. The VR containment frame is made from stainless steel and the closure gate from an impact resistant polymer. We do not recommend using the ROVR below 0°C (32°F), but please inquire.
STEPPING INTO A ROVR
ROVR overshoes on a ROVR platform is a very low friction combination and you should take care when stepping into the ROVR, (this means don’t leap in). Best to enter the ROVR slowly by stepping from a high friction surface like a carpet, rug or rubber mat and gently placing one foot into the ROVR dish centre and then bring the other foot next to the first.
Do not wear a headset when entering or leaving the ROVR!
WALKING ON A ROVR
To walk on a ROVR you must learn to simultaneously slide both feet in opposite directions like for a cross / elliptical trainer. The starting position is Position 1.
Slide the feet to Position 2.
Repeat this movement quickly several times so your conscious brain cannot interfere and this will imprint the muscle action on your brain so you will slide walk without thinking when presented with motivation to walk in a virtual world. This is amazingly effective – because we don’t carry memories of how we move our legs when we walk.
The same happens on a ROVR. (think about that – you most likely walked to where you are now reading this – think hard ….. Can you find a memory of how you moved your legs?)
VISUAL IMMERSION
Only when safely standing in the ROVR should you put on an HMD headset. Many headsets completely block your view so your association with the real world will be lost whilst VR immersed.
STEPPING OUT OF A ROVR
You must remove head mounted displays (HMDs) to have an un-obstructed view of the real world before stepping out of a ROVR. Remember some HMDs are wired and may restrict movement.
Wired headphones may also restrict movement and should be removed before stepping out of the ROVR.
Stepping out of the ROVR requires the same care as stepping into the ROVR. Once steady and standing centrally within the
ROVR you should place one leg outside of the platform onto a mat, rug or carpet, following with the other foot. You should remove ROVR overshoes as soon as you leave the ROVR platform and you must avoid stepping on to hard floor surfaces e.g. wood, tiled, linoleum, etc., because these represent a slip hazard and may also damage the ceramic studs.
