| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥2,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Force sensation plays an important role in the manipulation of virtual objects. Haptic interface is a feedback device that generates skin and muscle sensation, including sense of touch, weight and rigidity. We have been working in research on haptic interface in virtual environments for a number of years. We have developed various force feedback devices and its applications, In most cases of haptic interface, software of virtual environment is tightly connected to control program of force displays. This problem is a hazard for development of further application of haptic virtual environment. We have been developing modular software tools to support various force displays and their applications. Our latest system is composed of seven modules : device driver of force display, haptic renderer, model manager, primitive manager, autonomy engine, visual display manager and communication interface, The system is called LHX
Existing communication media supports only visual and auditory information. We have tried to use haptic information as a tool for communication. We used network capability of LHX to connect two force displays in the same virtual environment. TCP/IP based communication software is developed. The two users of our system feel reaction force simultaneously. They can cooperatively manipulate virtual objects. One user can grasp the other users virtual hand and they feel force applied from the other user. This function is beneficial for trainer-trainee interaction. Effectiveness of the system is exemplified by surgical simulator.
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