Street Crossing Using a Virtual Environment Mobility Simulator

There is a need to manipulate and enrich the gait rehabilitation environment for individuals post-stroke. The virtual environment mobility simulator described in this paper uses two Rutgers Mega Ankle robot prototypes, a PC rendering the simulation exercise, a large display showing the virtual scene, and an unweighing frame. The simulator is designed for training while standing, in a realistic setting of a street-crossing environment. Therapists can change the difficulty of the task in the simulated environment by manipulating a set of variables such as street width, the duration of pedestrian green light, the level of environmental distractions (visual and auditory), as well as the road surface and visibility conditions. The system is currently under development, with pilot trials planned.