You can now experience VR running on most treadmills with Octonic’s 2.0 release

Octonic’s 2.0 version of its VR treadmill running app is now compatible with 99 per cent of treadmills

Users can connect with their treadmill from VR through Bluetooth connectivity – Octonic is integrating with around 40 treadmill brands

Octonic has been tested for safety by 1,500 VR enthusiasts and by 80 runners at the UK’s Running Show with ‘no falls or accidents’

Ilya Polokhin, CEO of Octonic, founded the company in April 2020, following a four-year stint as founder and CEO of VR experience provider Hubneo in New York

Octonic has released the 2.0 iteration of its VR treadmill running experience, which it says is now compatible with 99 per cent of treadmills on the market. The previous version had a non-connected mode, where runners adjusted treadmill speed manually on a passthrough viewbox and while that option still exists, many can also now connect with the treadmill from VR through Bluetooth connectivity. Overall the company says it is integrating with 40 treadmill brands, more than 400 models.

The company’s motion engine matches the treadmill and VR speed, which enables users to avoid motion sickness and feel immersed in their running experience. The company is highly focused on users’ security and this 2.0 release comes after a demo product was tested by 1,500 VR enthusiasts – it confirmed that in “all cases” they had positive safety results with “no falls or accidents”. It was also tested by 80 runners at the UK’s National Running Show earlier this year.

“With Octonic, VR running is completely safe and secure,” said Nahiyan Ahmad, Octonic’s chief of business. “Positional awareness is key to our balance and direction as runners, so we’ve implemented a solution to give users insights into their treadmill location while running in VR.

“Our system tracks users in real-time, thanks to a quick pre-run calibration, giving them live information about their position on the treadmill belt. A mini avatar within users’ line of sight, in addition to an augmented safety zone and a visible treadmill belt below the user, give runners complete assurances about their placement.

“Our departure warning system builds on this awareness by informing runners about positional shifts from the treadmill’s safety zone. When shifting to the right or left, both visual and audio cues will direct users to correct their placement. Once back within the safety zone, runners can continue to enjoy their VR workout without disruptive signals.”

In the event of a user veering off the safety zone, the treadmill will stop (in the new integrated version) and the workout will end.

Octonic has been working in collaboration with a UK-based smart treadmill company NoblePro – which enables smartphone control of its treadmills through Bluetooth and running app Kinni – to push the integration even further. “They have created VR treadmill replicas, precisely calibrating in-headset treadmill visuals with the real thing, including handrails and the moving belt,” said Ahmad. “So when people reach out to their virtual treadmills, they will touch their real NoblePro treadmills in complete synchronisation, creating the first ever integrated VR fitness treadmill.”

Octonic’s head of product and CEO, Ilya Polokhin, founded the company in April 2020, following a four-year stint as founder and CEO of Hubneo in New York. Polokhin says Hubneo evolved out of his “hobby designing, building and playing with VR motion simulators”. It allowed users to immerse themselves in VR through the latest equipment and unique motion simulation systems, which included treadmill games, flight simulators and racing experiences.

Working alongside David Wen, chief of engineering, the team’s focus on VR treadmill running grew and Hubneo closed its doors in February 2021 so the company could focus on developing Octonic for widespread adoption.

Octonic is available to buy for Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro for US$14.99 – although it is still to complete Meta’s full review process – through which users can access four different worlds. The company says the former hardware is better for walkers and light joggers for speeds of up to 6mph, the latter is more suited for higher speeds due to its “balanced design”.