Development of VR Glove and Presentation Control Method Using Pseudo Force Generated by Asymmetric Vibration and Electrical Stimulation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20325
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 61020:Human interface and interaction-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Yem Vibol 東京都立大学, システムデザイン研究科, 助教 (20808258)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: VRグローブ / 疑似力覚 / 電気刺激 / 力触覚提示

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we are developing a glove that reproduces tactile sensation and its presentation control method using both mechanical and electrical stimulation for virtual reality and teleoperation. Basically, we investigate the sensory characteristics of electrotactile stimulation and mechanical stimulation at the fingertip, and the sensory characteristics of their combination of these stimuli. There are two main results of this study. First, we investigated the phenomenon of the interaction between mechanical vibration stimulation and electrical stimulation at the fingertip. Second, we proposed a method for estimating the sensory threshold of electrical stimulation by estimating skin impedance in order to reduce the variation in the intensity of the sensation. These results were presented at domestic and international conferences on the fields of haptics and virtual reality.

Free Research Field

バーチャルリアリティ，ハプティクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

機械刺激と電気刺激を併用することで，機械刺激のみと比較して広い範囲の触感を提示することが可能となり，触覚ディスプレイも小型・薄型・軽量化を実現できる．一方で触覚電気刺激は生起される感覚の強さにばらつきが大きく，実用化の妨げとなっている．そこで，本研究で提案した刺激電流閾値を推定する手法により今後の実用化に繋がると期待できる．また，あらゆる触覚再現手法を開発するために，電気刺激と機械刺激の相互作用を理解するする必要があり，本研究の成果がその手法の開発に貢献できる．