In this paper we propose a haptic interaction system that physically represents the underlying geometry of objects displayed in a 2D picture, i.e., a digital image. To obtain the object’s geometry displayed in the picture, we estimate the physical transformation between the object plane and the image plane based on homographic information. We then calculate the rotated surface normal vector of the object’s face and place it on the corresponding part in the 2D image. The purpose of this setup is to create a force that can be rendered along with the image without distorting the visual information. We evaluated the proposed haptic rendering system using a set of pictures of objects with different orientations. The experimental results show that the participants reliably identified the geometric configuration by touching the object in the picture. We conclude this paper with a set of applications.

We present six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) haptic rendering algorithms using translational (PDt) and generalized penetration depth (PDg). Our rendering algorithm can handle any type of object/object haptic interaction using penalty-based response and makes no assumption about the underlying geometry and topology. Moreover, our rendering algorithm can effectively deal with multiple contacts. Our penetration depth algorithms for PDt and PDg are based on a contact-space projection technique combined with iterative, local optimization on the contact-space. We circumvent the local minima problem, imposed by the local optimization, using motion coherence present in the haptic simulation. Our experimental results show that our methods can produce high-fidelity force feedback for general polygonal models consisting of tens of thousands of triangles at near-haptic rates, and are successfully integrated into an off-the-shelf 6DoF haptic device. We also discuss the benefits of using different formulations of penetration depth in the context of 6DoF haptics.

This paper describes a flexible visuo-haptic display module. We have developed a flexible electro-active polymer (EAP) actuator and a thin flexible visual display with 3×3 array configuration via polymer technology. The flexible actuator consists of nine EAP cells vertically moving in response to change in their thickness. The flexible display uses polymer based optical waveguide allowing light to scatter only at specific area. The display film is transparent and identically designed to the array pattern to fit for the arrangement of actuator cells. A pressure sensor is installed under the integrated module. The performance of the actuator is proved to be sufficient for satisfying perceivable range of human touch sense. The integrated system can provide interactive haptic feedback such as key pressing, contact vibration sensations, and etc. in accordance with user input.

This paper presents a new miniature haptic display to convey ample haptic information to a user of a handheld interface. There are buttons on interfaces or general electronic devices, but existing buttons provide haptic feedback of only one passive pattern to a user. Because humans perceive tactile and kinesthetic information simultaneously when they handle objects the proposed actuator provides both sensations at once. It is able to generate various levels of kinesthetic sensations when pressing a button under diverse situations. Also, vibrotactile feedback can be delivered for exciting haptic effects with numerous patterns. Its performance was evaluated in accordance with the resistive force by changing the intensity of the input current. Experiments show that the proposed actuator has the ability to provide numerous haptic sensations for more realistic and complex haptic experiences.

When using commercialized robot assisted laparoscopic, surgeon has met some problems to depend only on image of the surgical field. To solve it, there were various researches. The previous study showed that it is possible to estimate the operation force on the commercialized instrument inside patient without sensors. To apply the estimated force to a haptic master console for the laparoscopy surgical robot system, the light haptic master console should be designed. This paper suggests the design of lighter master console handle to reduce a weight of the console whose structure can match with the joint and DOF of an instrument. A cable-conduit mechanism is designed to make light structure to perform a delicate manipulation. The cable-conduit mechanism removes the weight and inertia of link caused by haptic actuator and encoder which is separated from handle link of a manipulator.

In modern society, people spend most of their time on various types of chairs. However, it is not easy for a designer to design a comfortable chair because satisfaction with the chair depends not only on the quantitative elements such as size, but also on the qualitative element such as the user’s feeling. To deal with these problems, there have been many studies on designing ergonomic chairs. This paper proposes the haptic-aided design (HAD) system to design an ergonomic chair. Based on the HAD system, the designer can experience whether the chair is comfortable or not through the haptic device, and also can modify the design parameters instantaneously. The haptic chair capable of controlling the design parameters in real time was proposed as a haptic simulator. The controllable parameters, such as seat height, reclining angle, stiffness of the backrest, and so on were selected based on the previous research related to ergonomic chairs. The proposed methodology will help reduce the development cost and time by replacing the process of making the real mock-ups and prototypes with the haptic chair.

유아의 감성, 인지 발달을 위해서는 시각, 청각, 그리고 촉각 등의 감각통합이 필요하다. ICT의 발전 덕택에 유아는 학습과정 중에 다양한 감각을 사용할 수 있는 더 많은 기회를 갖게 되었다. 그러나, ICT 교육법은 단지 시청각에 중점을 두고 있어 통합인지가 부족하며, 이러한 사실은 ICT가 왜 주교보재로 사용될 수 없는지를 보여준다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 컴퓨터 퍼즐게임을 이용한 wUbi-Pen(촉각펜)의 인지 효과를 평가하였다. 실험 결과, wUbi-Pen을 이용해 햅틱 퍼즐 놀이를 한 경우 햅틱 기능이 없는 펜을 이용해서 퍼즐 놀이를 한 경우보다 K-WPPSI의 5개 동작성 평가 중 모양 맞추기, 미로, 빠진 곳 찾기 등 3개 영역에서 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 이러한 결과는 ICT 교재의 개발에 있어 촉각 기능의 필요성을 제시하고, 더 나아가 인지에 관련된 다양한 증상에 효과적인 교보재로 사용될 수 있음을 보여준다.

We present the initial results of on-going research for building a novel Mobile Haptic Interface (MHI) that can provide an unlimited haptic workspace in large immersive virtual environments. When a user explores a large virtual environment, the MHI can sense the position and orientation of the user, place itself to an appropriate configuration, and deliver force feedback, thereby enabling a virtually limitless workspace. Our MHI (PoMHI v0.5) features with omnidirectional mobility, a collision-free motion planning algorithm, and force feedback for general environment models. We also provide experimental results that show the fidelity of our mobile haptic interface.

This paper presents offline estimation of equivalent physical damping parameter in haptic interaction systems where damping is the most important parameter for stability. Based on the previous energy bounding algorithm, an offline procedure is developed in order to estimate the physical damping parameter of a haptic device by measuring energy flow-in to the haptic device. The proposed method does not use force/torque sensor at the handgrip. Numerical simulation and experiments verified effectiveness of the proposed method.