diff --git a/interface/resources/avatar/avatar-animation.json b/interface/resources/avatar/avatar-animation.json
index 2b8b3eb9b3..1c3a603eb5 100644
--- a/interface/resources/avatar/avatar-animation.json
+++ b/interface/resources/avatar/avatar-animation.json
@@ -5244,23 +5244,23 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5313,19 +5313,19 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5380,19 +5380,19 @@
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5469,19 +5469,19 @@
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "strafeRightHmd",
@@ -5533,19 +5533,19 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idleSettle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5597,19 +5597,19 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idleSettle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5661,19 +5661,19 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idleSettle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5725,19 +5725,19 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idleSettle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5794,19 +5794,19 @@
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnLeft",
@@ -5859,19 +5859,19 @@
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5919,15 +5919,15 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idleSettle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "strafeLeftHmd",
@@ -5935,11 +5935,11 @@
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -5983,15 +5983,15 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "idleSettle",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isNotMoving"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isNotInput"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "strafeRightHmd",
@@ -5999,11 +5999,11 @@
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
@@ -6128,19 +6128,19 @@
                                                                                                     "transitions": [
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKFWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingForward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputForward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "WALKBWD",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingBackward"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputBackward"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFERIGHT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingRight"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputRight"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "STRAFELEFT",
-                                                                                                            "var": "isMovingLeft"
+                                                                                                            "var": "isInputLeft"
                                                                                                         },
                                                                                                         {
                                                                                                             "state": "turnRight",
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MySkeletonModel.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MySkeletonModel.cpp
index 38065c8095..8d92767321 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MySkeletonModel.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MySkeletonModel.cpp
@@ -315,6 +315,10 @@ void MySkeletonModel::updateRig(float deltaTime, glm::mat4 parentTransform) {
     const float TALKING_TIME_THRESHOLD = 0.75f;
     params.isTalking = head->getTimeWithoutTalking() <= TALKING_TIME_THRESHOLD;
 
+    //pass X and Z input key floats (-1 to 1) to rig
+    params.inputX = myAvatar->getDriveKey(MyAvatar::TRANSLATE_X);
+    params.inputZ = myAvatar->getDriveKey(MyAvatar::TRANSLATE_Z);
+
     myAvatar->updateRigControllerParameters(params);
 
     _rig.updateFromControllerParameters(params, deltaTime);
diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
index 42980f47a7..0be05f843e 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.cpp
@@ -2160,6 +2160,51 @@ void Rig::updateFromControllerParameters(const ControllerParameters& params, flo
         }
     }
 
+    //deadzone constant
+    const float INPUT_DEADZONE_THRESHOLD = 0.05f;
+
+    if (fabsf(params.inputX) <= INPUT_DEADZONE_THRESHOLD && fabsf(params.inputZ) <= INPUT_DEADZONE_THRESHOLD) {
+        // no WASD input
+        _animVars.set("isInputForward", false);
+        _animVars.set("isInputBackward", false);
+        _animVars.set("isInputRight", false);
+        _animVars.set("isInputLeft", false);
+        _animVars.set("isNotInput", true);
+    } else if (fabsf(params.inputZ) >= fabsf(params.inputX)) {
+        if (params.inputZ > 0.0f) {
+            // forward
+            _animVars.set("isInputForward", true);
+            _animVars.set("isInputBackward", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputRight", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputLeft", false);
+            _animVars.set("isNotInput", false);
+        } else { 
+            // backward
+            _animVars.set("isInputForward", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputBackward", true);
+            _animVars.set("isInputRight", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputLeft", false);
+            _animVars.set("isNotInput", false);
+        }
+    } else {
+        if (params.inputX > 0.0f) {
+            // right
+            _animVars.set("isInputForward", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputBackward", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputRight", true);
+            _animVars.set("isInputLeft", false);
+            _animVars.set("isNotInput", false);
+        } else {
+            // left
+            _animVars.set("isInputForward", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputBackward", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputRight", false);
+            _animVars.set("isInputLeft", true);
+            _animVars.set("isNotInput", false);
+        }
+    }
+
+
     _headEnabled = params.primaryControllerFlags[PrimaryControllerType_Head] & (uint8_t)ControllerFlags::Enabled;
     bool leftHandEnabled = params.primaryControllerFlags[PrimaryControllerType_LeftHand] & (uint8_t)ControllerFlags::Enabled;
     bool rightHandEnabled = params.primaryControllerFlags[PrimaryControllerType_RightHand] & (uint8_t)ControllerFlags::Enabled;
diff --git a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
index 98431e1dca..8f5eddac00 100644
--- a/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
+++ b/libraries/animation/src/Rig.h
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ public:
         AnimPose secondaryControllerPoses[NumSecondaryControllerTypes];  // rig space
         uint8_t secondaryControllerFlags[NumSecondaryControllerTypes];
         bool isTalking;
+        float inputX;
+        float inputZ;
         bool reactionEnabledFlags[NUM_AVATAR_BEGIN_END_REACTIONS];
         bool reactionTriggers[NUM_AVATAR_TRIGGER_REACTIONS];
         HFMJointShapeInfo hipsShapeInfo;