Virtual jump rope comes alive using 2D LiDAR technology

Encouraging children and adults through the power of play

Finland’s largest science center, Heureka, attracts thousands of visitors seeking to learn more about the mysteries of science. The exhibition named “The Power of Play” encourages both children and adults alike to do one thing: play.  

Nearly 1,500 visitors explore Heureka and the “Power of Play” exhibition every day. The “Power of Play” transports visitors back into their childhood. How? The exhibition offers a multitude of interactive elements and experiments to encourage visitors to learn through play.

LiDAR and Jump Rope

One of the most popular stations is a virtual jumping rope that uses LiDAR technology from SICK. The virtual jumping rope is a simple game where children try to jump high and perform tricks while doing so. Since the jump rope is virtual, there is a light that appears on the ground and kids hop over it eliminating any safety concerns. The LRS4000 2D LiDAR sensor allows precise distance measurements and makes the game experience realistic and safe. The distance measurement provided by the LiDAR is used to check if the user actually jumped over the rope.

Heureka has a long history as a science center with roots that can be traced back to the University of Helsinki, and scientists who had become acquainted with different science centers located around the world. Heureka was founded to make science and technology accessible to the public in a stimulating and interactive manner. The exhibitions at Heureka offer informative and entertaining experiences to visitors of all age groups. School children, in particular, visit Heureka often as an excursion and use the visit to supplement their tuition. “The Power of Play” was designed in collaboration with a number of experts. It underscores the importance of play for learning and developing creativity.

Heureka is not just for visitors…

The Heureka Science Center is not only an extraordinary place for visitors, but also offers an inspiring and creative work environment for its employees. Many Heureka employees, like Antti Kemppainen, have been with the company for decades, which attests to the attractiveness of the workplace and the commitment of its employees.

Kemppainen has been working at Heureka for 25 years and describes his work as “play.” The work at Heureka gives him the opportunity to unleash his creativity and receive immediate feedback on his work. When Kemppainen observes the current exhibition, he sees how much joy it brings to visitors, in particular the children. The children love climbing, assembling, jumping, hopping, and solving puzzles.

The employees at Heureka are proud that their work promotes scientific curiosity, learning and the power of play without pursuing commercial goals, as it is a nonprofit foundation.

All in all, the Heureka Science Centre is not only a place where visitors can learn and play, but also a place where employees can find joy and meaning in their work. Heureka offers a unique combination of creativity, scientific curiosity, and social impact.