Virtuix Omni

Virtuix Omni
InventorJan Goetgeluk
ManufacturerVirtuix Inc.
Current supplierenterprise.virtuix.com/commercial-inquiries/
Websitewww.virtuix.com
Notes
Released January 2017

The Virtuix Omni is an omnidirectional treadmill simulator for virtual reality games and other applications. It uses a platform to simulate locomotion i.e. the motion of walking, requiring both special shoes or shoe covers and a surface that reduces friction. It works in conjunction with the HTC Vive, and allows a Vive user to physically walk within a limited number of supported games.[1]

In 2013, the Virtuix Omni became one of the ten biggest technology Kickstarter campaigns, raising $1.1 million in funding.[2] Since then, Virtuix has raised another $35 million from private and institutional investors.[2]

Although originally stated to be released in January 2014,[3] production of the Omni only began in November 2015.[4]

Kickstarter backers began receiving their orders during the third week of January 2017.[5][6][7][8]

As of mid-2017 the company no longer offers this version of the Omni (the "Omni Pro") to consumers, instead supplying it for commercial use only. Virtuix has shipped more than 3,500 Omni Pro systems to date to over 500 commercial locations.[9]

An updated consumer version of the device, called the "Omni One" had been planned for release by the end of 2021,[10] though the first units were not shipped to investors until March, 2023.[11][12]

  1. ^ Deffenbaugh, Carl (23 February 2018). "StoneFire Pizza Company rolls out 'up-and-coming' Omni Virtual Reality". Fox6Now. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b "SeedInvest". Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Omni: Move Naturally in Your Favorite Game". Kickstarter. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Update 44: Production Launch, Active VR Speech, Fallout ยท Omni: Move Naturally in Your Favorite Game". Kickstarter. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Stephen Emert on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Stephen Emert on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Univ Advancing Tech on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  8. ^ "First consumer Omni Delivery??". virtuix. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  9. ^ Sanford, Tim (20 February 2018). "Virtuix Unveils Omni VR Entertainment System At Amusement Expo". Vending Times. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  10. ^ Takahashi, Dean (3 March 2021). "Virtuix raises $11 million on SeedInvest for Omni One VR treadmill". VentureBeat. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Virtuix launches Omni One, an omni-directional treadmill for VR". Auganix.org. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Virtuix's Omni One VR treadmill is finally making its way to customers". Engadget. Retrieved 12 May 2023.