SBIR Phase II: Intuitive Touch Feedback via Ungrounded Tactile Shear Feedback for Virtual Reality and Human-Machine Interfaces

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是其对人机界面的革命性影响，可能应用于计算机辅助设计(CAD)、军事、维护和飞行员培训界面、工业和建筑操作员界面、机器人和腹腔镜手术、物理治疗、康复和秋千训练、教育、远程机器人、汽车导航和安全系统以及视频游戏。虽然这些应用中的触觉交互已经可以通过桌面机器人力反馈设备来描绘，但开发的触觉技术可以以低得多的价格提供逼真的触觉反馈(消费设备所需)，而且与当前的力反馈设备不同，开发的触觉设备可以用于在大型工作空间应用中自然交互，如动作输入视频游戏或VR体验。这项拟议的研究将增强对虚拟环境中人-触觉和多模式交互的科学理解，并将为这项技术移植到邻近领域创造一个模型。这项小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在满足新兴消费者虚拟现实(VR)领域对直观、身临其境和廉价触觉技术的市场需求。许多公司现在都在为VR制造廉价的3D头盔显示器(HMD)，但目前的触觉接口要么太贵，运动范围有限，要么太粗糙，无法在VR中描绘逼真的触觉交互。该公司创造了一种不接地的触觉运动控制器，它利用一种新型的触摸反馈形式，应用手中剪切力来创建引人注目的物理反馈，价格对消费者市场可行。提出的研究目标是基于主要利益相关者和尝试过该公司的VR爱好者的反馈-S目前是高端触觉控制器。他们的反馈建议通过减少设备大小、质量和系统延迟来改善控制器的整体用户体验，同时改善设备人体工程学并降低成本。第二阶段的研究建立在第一阶段的研究结果基础上，该阶段的研究表明，新开发的触觉技术的更简单实现仍然被发现比传统的振动反馈更有吸引力。该项目将产生一个可以批量生产的参考设计。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is its potential to revolutionize human-machine interfaces, with possible applications in computer-aided design (CAD); military, maintenance, and pilot training interfaces; industrial and construction operator interfaces; robotic and laparoscopic surgery; physical therapy, rehabilitation, and swing training; education; telerobotics; automotive navigation and safety systems; and video games. While haptic interactions in these applications can already be portrayed with desktop robotic force feedback devices, the developed haptic technology could provide realistic haptic feedback at a much lower price point (required for consumer devices) and unlike current force feedback devices, the developed haptic devices can be used to naturally interact in large workspace applications like motion-input video games or VR experiences. The proposed research will enhance the scientific understanding of human-haptic and multi-modal interactions in virtual environments, and will create a model for this technology to migrate into adjacent fields.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 project seeks to meet the market demand for intuitive, immersive, and inexpensive haptic technologies in the emerging field of consumer virtual reality (VR). Multiple companies are now making inexpensive 3D head-mounted displays (HMDs) for VR, but current haptic interfaces are either too expensive, have limited range of motion, or are too crude to portray realistic haptic interactions in VR. The company has created an ungrounded haptic motion controller that utilizes a new form of touch feedback that applies in-hand shear forces to create compelling physical feedback at a price that is viable for consumer markets. The proposed research objectives are based on feedback from key stakeholders and VR enthusiasts who have tried the company?s current high-end haptic controllers. Their feedback suggests improving the overall user experience of the controllers through reducing device size, mass, and system latency, while improving device ergonomics and reducing cost. The Phase II research builds on the findings of Phase I, which showed that even simpler implementations of the newly developed haptic technology were still found to be more compelling than traditional vibration feedback. The project will result in a reference design that can be mass produced.