Locomotion system and apparatus

Abstract

A locomotion system for use with a virtual environment technology includes a platform configured to support a user, a harness support assembly coupled to the platform and extending upwardly from the platform, and a safety harness configured to be worn by the user. The harness support assembly includes a support halo positioned above the platform and extending about a vertical central axis. The safety harness includes an interface structure moveably coupled to the support halo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear comprising:
 an upper portion covering at least a portion of a foot of a user; and   a sole including one or more pads,   wherein the footwear is configured to be used on a low friction platform of an omnidirectional locomotion system including:
 a safety harness engaged with at least one harness support assembly engaged with the low friction platform and extending upward from the low friction platform to provide support to the user on the low friction platform and enable movement of the user on the low friction platform. 
   
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one shoelace configured to secure the upper portion to the foot of the user.   
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one strap configured to secure the upper portion to the foot of the user.   
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one low friction pad. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one pad with a higher friction coefficient than the friction coefficient of the low friction platform. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one pad is on a toe portion of the sole. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one low friction pad and at least one pad with a higher friction coefficient than the at least one low friction pad. 
     
     
         8 . A footwear cover comprising
 an upper portion covering at least a portion of a foot of a user; and   a sole including one or more pads,   wherein the footwear is configured to be used on a low friction platform of an omnidirectional locomotion system including:
 a safety harness engaged with at least one harness support assembly engaged with the low friction platform and extending upward from the low friction platform to provide support to the user on the low friction platform and enable movement of the user on the low friction platform. 
   
     
     
         9 . The footwear cover of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at least one shoelace configured to secure the upper portion to the foot of the user.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear cover of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at least one strap configured to secure the upper portion to the foot of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The footwear cover of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one low friction pad. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear cover of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one pad with a higher friction coefficient than the friction coefficient of the low friction platform. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear cover of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one pad is on a toe portion of the sole. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear cover of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one low friction pad and at least one pad with a higher friction coefficient than the at least one low friction pad. 
     
     
         15 . A locomotion system comprising:
 a footwear including:
 an upper portion covering at least a portion of a foot of a user, and 
 a sole including one or more pads, 
 wherein the footwear is configured to be used on a low friction platform; 
   at least one harness support assembly engaged with the low friction platform and extending upward from the low friction platform;   a safety harness engaged with the at least one harness support assembly configured to provide support to the user on the low friction platform and enable movement of the user on the low friction platform.   
     
     
         16 . The locomotion system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one of a shoelace or strap configured to secure the upper portion to the foot of the user.   
     
     
         17 . The locomotion system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one low friction pad. 
     
     
         18 . The locomotion system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one pad with a higher friction coefficient than the friction coefficient of the low friction platform. 
     
     
         19 . The locomotion system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one pad is on a toe portion of the sole. 
     
     
         20 . The locomotion system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pads includes at least one low friction pad and at least one pad with a higher friction coefficient than the at least one low friction pad.