Imagine that you could build and use a robotic device without the need for expensive specialized equipment or knowledge. This is the vision that researchers at the University of Bristol have achieved and that creates a lightweight, affordable and easy solution for everyday users. New Haptic Arm
While there are already several robotic arm devices, most are heavy, expensive, and out of reach people lacking the expertise to use them. New Haptic Arm
Developed by human-computer interaction experts from Bristol's engineering team, Mantis is the first system of its kind to provide light, affordable and accessible haptic force feedback. New Haptic Arm
People have five senses, but electronic devices communicate with us primarily with only two: seeing and hearing. Haptic feedback (often abbreviated to haptic) changes this by simulating the sense of touch. Not only can you touch a computer or other device, the computer can touch you as well. Force feedback is a particular type of force that can provide. New Haptic Arm
Theoretically, the praying mantis could be built and used by anyone who goes up from a secondary school student. In addition, according to researchers, the Mantis can be built 20 times cheaper than the market equivalent because it uses components, including brushless motors, which cost significantly less than high-fidelity equivalents, which are often used only in research laboratories. New Haptic Arm
"Humans already have a great sense of touch, and Mantis enhances this innate ability by allowing people to touch and feel 3D objects, giving more depth to the VR experience," said senior researcher Dr. Mantis. Anne Roudaut of the Bristol Department of Computer Science. Robotics
"Imagine a user playing a virtual reality game with Mantis on their fingers, who could then touch and feel virtual objects, immersing themselves both visually and physically in an alternative dimension."
Dr. Roudaut and her doctoral student Gareth Barnaby will be presenting the Mantis in New Orleans (19-23 October) at the UIST (User Interface Software and Technology) conference, the leading forum for innovation in human-computer interfaces that brings people from the graphical Bringing together world and web user interfaces, tangible and omnipresent computing as well as virtual and augmented reality. Robotics
The Mantis project is also supported by Senmag Robotics, a new spin-out company that researchers can hopefully use to bring their design to market, starting with the production and testing of the first kits to be released by the end of the year to be brought. Robotics
"We will abandon the plans that allow anyone to build a praying mantis," adds Gareth Barnaby. "As we continue to disseminate force feedback devices and not confine ourselves to research laboratories, we also endeavor to produce some easy-to-build kits as well as ready-made versions that will be made available on the website." Robotics
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Leverhulme Trust. Robotics
Reference
University of Bristol. "New haptic arm places robotics within easy reach." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 October 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191020084936.htm>.