Enter the virtual world
The user explores a ski environment designed in Unreal Engine 5.
MASTER’S THESIS / EPFL
Human-in-
the-loop
EPFL thesis project
Bringing physical movement into virtual reality.
Human-in-the-loop explores how a person can interact with a virtual world through their own body, combining sensor and actuations to bring physical immersion inside a virtual environment.
Read the thesis3-RRSRobotic platform
DRAG TO INSPECT
01 / The idea
VR becomes more immersive when the body is part of the interface.
Instead of experiencing a virtual slope only through sight and sound, the user can lean, shift their weight and feel the platform respond. The result is a closer connection between what happens in the virtual world and what the body feels in the real one.
02 / The loop
Every movement connects the virtual and physical worlds.
The user, the virtual scene and the robotic platform continuously inform one another. That exchange is what turns a visual simulation into a physical experience.
03 / Beyond the screen
Physical feedback adds another layer of presence.
Sight and sound create a convincing world. Movement and force make that world feel closer, giving the user a more direct connection with the experience.
Move naturally
The platform reads the user’s force and movement instead of relying only on a joystick.
Feel the experience
The physical platform reacts to the virtual terrain, making the experience more tangible.
Looking ahead
A framework that can move beyond a single experience.
The same approach can support new kinds of physical interaction, from training and sport education to rehabilitation, entertainment and teleoperated systems. The virtual world can change, while the connection between the user and the platform remains.
Built with
A bridge between software and the physical world.
Unreal Engine 5Communication protocolsReal-time controlRobotic platform