KAT VR has been a specialist in the virtual reality (VR) locomotion space for several years now, launching its first Kickstarter campaign in 2015 for the rather large Kat Walk omnidirectional treadmill. Last year saw the company step into the consumer space with the KAT Loco and soon it’ll start another crowd-funding campaign for a compact treadmill called KAT Walk C.
The new treadmill KAT VR is working on is a more compact adaption of its larger models, providing 360-degrees of natural locomotion without taking up a massive amount of floor space at a price that’s not too OTT.
KAT Walk C offers 0.69m2 of walking space, used in conjunction with specialised shoes and a harness system to keep players safely in one place. The body adaptive harness allows for walking, running, crouching and other motions VR players need to fully immerse themselves in a digital environment without the worry of roomscale space. “We’re equipping the harness with a multi-layer reverse-tightening system that not only helps you get securely fastened but also improves the harness contiguity to your body,” notes the company in a press release.
The surface of the base and the footwear have been designed so that users can walk with a natural gait, the shoes even have multiple levels of friction depending on how experienced someone is using an omnidirectional treadmill.
KAT VR expects to launch a crowd-funding Kickstarter later this month where backers will be able to secure a KAT Walk C for the Early Bird price of $699 USD. The company hasn’t yet revealed how much its planning to raise, what the standard price will be or if successful when it expects to make the product available.
KAT Walk C will support most major headsets such as Oculus Rift S, Oculus Quest (via Oculus Link), HTC Vive, Pimax, Windows Mixed Reality and PlayStation VR (via an additional adapter). When it comes to videogame compatibility KAT Walk C will reportedly support all those with free locomotion on SteamVR and PlayStation Store.
The treadmill will also come supplied with KAT Gateway. This is KAT Walk C’s control panel, accessed either on desktop or in VR, so users can adjust the treadmills parameters to suit their requirements.
As further details on the KAT Walk C Kickstarter are released, VRFocus will let you know.
