Credit: Steam
A group of enthusiasts from the US conducted an unusual experiment, training lab rats to play DOOM. To do this, the developers constructed a fully functional VR setup adapted to the rodents’ physiology.
Initially, animals simply learned to navigate the level’s corridors. In the updated version, created with the support of engineers Sandor Makra and Ákos Blašek, the system was refined to perfection:
- A rotating ball (treadmill) for tracking movements;
- A curved AMOLED screen with a 180-degree viewing angle;
- A physical lever that functions as a trigger for shooting;
- A reward system that dispenses sugary water for successful actions (killing a monster or completing a stage).
Control is via a PC and Raspberry Pi microcomputer, and the software is based on a modified ViZDoom engine. The authors note that the test rats successfully mastered navigation and shooting mechanics, although adaptation to the virtual environment took about two weeks.
