A real-time control of multiple Avatars using Wii remotes and Avatar system

Virtual reality training and rehabilitation systems require an unobtrusive and inexpensive monitoring of users with minimum latency. Inertial sensors have inherent drift that limits absolute positioning of sensors, while infrared sensors require special setup and expensive deployment. We developed Avatar system as hybrid infrared and inertial solution for low cost deployment. In this paper we propose a synchronized extension of the Avatar system for multiple users. The system allows monitoring of multiple users using time division multiplexing of infrared diodes on user´s body and two Wii^© Remotes as optical sensors for absolute positioning. A network of inertial nodes on each user is controlled by a master node that serves as a gateway for communication with a capture device, synchronizes and drives infrared LEDs. The capture device communicates through Bluetooth with master nodes (iControl) and Wii remotes. We present system architecture, principles of operation, and performance analysis of the implemented system.