
Mantis, designed by Bristol’s experts in human-computer interaction, is the first system of its kind that enables light, affordable and accessible haptic force feedback
Imagine being able to build and use a robotic device without the need for expensive, specialist kit or skills. That is the vision that researchers from the University of Bristol have turned into reality, creating a lightweight, affordable and simple solution for everyday users.
While multiple robotic arm devices already exist, most are heavy, expensive and outside the reach of individuals who lack the expertise to use them.
Mantis, designed by experts in human-computer interaction from Bristol’s world-renowned team of engineers, is the first system of its kind that enables light, affordable and accessible haptic force feedback.
Human beings have five senses, but electronic devices communicate with us using predominantly just two: sight and hearing. Haptic feedback (often shortened to just haptics) changes this by simulating the sense of touch. Not only can you touch a computer or other device, but the computer can touch you back. A force feedback is a particular kind that can provide force.
Theoretically, the Mantis could be built and used by anyone upwards from a secondary school student. Not only that, researcher say the Mantis can be built for 20 times less the expense of the market equivalent because it uses components, including brushless motors, that cost significantly less than high-fidelity equivalents that are often confined to research labs.
“Humans already have a great sense of touch. Mantis expands on this innate ability by enabling people to touch and feel 3D objects, adding more depth to the VR experience,” says lead researcher Dr Anne Roudaut, from Bristol’s Department of Computer Science.
“Imagine a user playing a game in Virtual Reality with Mantis attached to their fingers. They could then touch and feel virtual objects, thus immersing themselves both visually and physically in an alternative dimension.”
Dr Roudaut and her PhD student Gareth Barnaby, are in New Orleans (19-23 October) presenting the Mantis at the User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) conference, the premier forum for innovations in human-computer interfaces that brings together people from graphical and web user interfaces, tangible and ubiquitous computing, and virtual and augmented reality.
Project Mantis is also supported by a new a spin-out venture, Senmag Robotics, which researchers hope will enable them to progress their design to market, starting with the production and testing of the first kits ready for release by the end of the year.
“We will be giving out the plans to allow anyone to build a Mantis,” adds Gareth Barnaby. “Because we are keen to make force feedback devices more widespread and not confined to research labs, we are also looking to produce some easy to build kits as well as pre-built versions that we will make available on the website.”
Learn more: New haptic arm places robotics within easy reach
The Latest on: Haptic force feedback
via Google News
The Latest on: Haptic force feedback
- Will 2021 Be the Year of the Haptic Touchpad?on January 12, 2021 at 9:25 am
Haptic feedback replaces physical touchpad hinges with a superior, uniform clicking sensation. Lenovo just added it to a new ThinkPad, and more laptops are set to harness the tech in the coming months ...
- At CES 2021, These Haptic Gloves Could Change Virtual Reality Training Foreveron January 11, 2021 at 9:27 am
Today at the all-virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a Dutch start-up as launched its new haptic gloves for professional virtual reality training.
- Introducing SenseGlove Nova, A Rapidly Donned Haptic Force-Feedback Glove For Professional VR/AR Trainingon January 11, 2021 at 7:20 am
At CES 2021 today, SenseGlove, a leading developer of force and haptic feedback gloves, announced the launch of SenseGlove Nova, a new version of haptic force-feedback gloves designed specifically for ...
- Video: Haptic touchpad brings a new feel to laptops at CESon January 11, 2021 at 6:03 am
Sensel has introduced a haptic touchpad for notebook developers that incorporates three different haptic technologies into a single thin pad. The touchpad includes a capacitive touch grid for ...
- Logitech G923: The Surest Thing In Sim Racingon January 7, 2021 at 9:34 am
A decade ago, if you were getting into sim racing and wanted to buy a steering wheel, there wasn’t much shopping around to do. You pretty much bought a Logitech G27 like everyone else and called it a ...
- Video: Haptic touchpad for notebooks comes to CES 2021on January 4, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Sensel has introduced a haptic touchpad for notebook developers that includes three different haptic technologies incorporated into a singular thin pad. The touchpad includes a capacitive touch grid ...
- Recent Advances in Robotic Surgeryon January 4, 2021 at 11:06 am
Tissue property modeling offers haptic feedback. Bendability and stiffness ... Newer flexible robots sense the force applied by shape reconstruction, with the stiffness of the advancing tip ...
- DualSense Wireless Controlleron January 2, 2021 at 11:13 pm
Haptic feedback** - Feel physically responsive feedback ... Adaptive triggers** - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments.
- Miniature Voice Coil Motor Features a 1/2 Inch Stroke and High Force-to-Size Ratioon January 1, 2021 at 4:00 pm
low inertia and high acceleration make it suitable for applications such as: pick-and-place, testing, laser steering, laser speckle reduction, mirror positioning, scanning, oscillation, switching, ...
- Haptic Technology Market Demand Analytics, Top Companies, Types, Application, Growth Drivers, Size, Share and Industry Analysis Forecast 2023on December 30, 2020 at 2:45 am
The haptic technology market has been segmented on the basis of component, feedback and application ... (U.S.), Synaptics Incorporated (U.S.), Force Dimension (Switzerland), among others.
via Bing News