Fingertip Haptics: A Novel Direction in Force Feedback Systems

Northwestern University, Evanston IL

Investigators

Abstract

The long-term objective of this project is to establish effective techniques for "fingertip haptics" - the direct fingertip exploration of virtual surfaces. This includes "direct" touch of objects as well as distal attribution (touching using an intermediate object such as a pencil or knife). In the course of the work, two novel devices will be built and studied, a tactile-haptic device with "contrary motion", and a novel "tangent plane" device, to help achieve the tangent position of the operator's finger relative the virtual surface.