Bodily sensation system

Abstract

To enable safe bodily sensation of a force of a target contacting a sensor device.SOLUTION: A bodily sensation system (100) includes: a sensor device (10) that has a piston (12) that is displaced by contact of a ball (X) and detects a force applied to the piston (12) or a speed or an acceleration of displacement of the piston (12); an air gun device (20) that discharges smoke; and a controller (50) that controls at least any of a magnitude or a speed of the smoke discharged by the air gun device (20) according to a detection result of the sensor device (10).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a haptic system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a method for quantitatively evaluating the feel of a hitting tool. A pressure sensor measures the force generated between a person and the hitting tool while the tool is being swung, and the change in the measured force is displayed on a display unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-228351 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, spectators can feel the power or speed of a professional athlete's hit or pitch, allowing them to appreciate the greatness of the professional athlete. However, with the configuration described in Patent Document 1, only numerical data is displayed on the display unit, and spectators cannot experience the power or speed of a professional athlete's hit or pitch. Furthermore, when allowing spectators to experience the power or speed of a professional athlete's hit or pitch, it is necessary to consider the safety of the spectators.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to safely sense at least one of the force and speed of an object that comes into contact with a sensor device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a haptic system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a movable part that is displaced by contact with an object, a sensor device that detects the force acting on the movable part or the speed or acceleration at which the movable part is displaced, an air cannon device that emits smoke, and a controller that controls at least either the size or speed of the smoke emitted from the air cannon device in accordance with the detection result of the sensor device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to safely experience at least one of the force and speed of an object that comes into contact with the sensor device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a sensory system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a controller provided in the sensory system of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of a control method executed by the sensation system of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Overview of the Experience System 100) Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of a sensory system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a sensory system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] The immersive system 100 includes a sensor device 10, an air cannon device 20, and a controller 50. The immersive system 100 may also include a display 30. The immersive system 100 converts the force of an object that comes into contact with the sensor device 10 into at least one of the size and speed of smoke emitted from the air cannon device 20, allowing the user to experience the force of the object. The immersive system 100 is used, for example, in comprehensive facilities such as stadiums where sports are played, or venues where events are held, etc.

[0011] In the following description, the object to be brought into contact with the sensor device 10 will be described as a ball X. The ball X is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a basketball, a baseball, or a soccer ball. The object is not limited to a ball. The object may be, for example, a hitting tool such as a baseball bat or a golf club. In this case, the subject may hit the sensor device 10 with the hitting tool. Furthermore, the object is not limited to an object such as a ball or a hitting tool, but may also be, for example, an animal such as a person. If the object is a person, the person may bring a part of their body into contact with the sensor device 10, for example, by hitting the sensor device 10 with their hand.

[0012] The sensor device 10 has a cylinder 11, a piston 12, a first sensor 15, and a second sensor 16. It is sufficient that the sensor device 10 includes only either the first sensor 15 or the second sensor 16.

[0013] Cylinder 11 is a cylindrical member with a bottom. An opening 11A is formed in bottom 11B of cylinder 11 to allow gas to pass between the inside and outside of cylinder 11. Note that the inside of cylinder 11 may be filled with liquid.

[0014] The piston 12 is displaced by contact with an object. The piston 12 is an example of a movable part. The piston 12 is a member that moves back and forth within the cylinder 11. The piston 12 moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder 11. The piston 12 may be biased in a direction away from the bottom 11B in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder 11. The piston 12 has a head 13 and a leg 14.

[0015] The head 13 is located outside the cylinder 11. The first surface 13A of the head 13 is the surface that comes into contact with an object. The first surface 13A is the surface of the head 13 opposite to the surface that faces the cylinder 11. The leg 14 is connected to the head 13. The leg 14 is housed so as to be movable within the cylinder 11. The leg 14 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical internal space of the cylinder 11. When the ball X comes into contact with the first surface 13A, the piston 12 is displaced toward the bottom 11B of the cylinder 11.

[0016] The first sensor 15 detects the force acting on the piston 12. The first sensor 15 outputs the detection result of the force acting on the piston 12 to the controller 50. The first sensor 15 is installed at the opening 11A of the cylinder 11. Note that the first sensor 15 may also be installed on the piston 12. Examples of the first sensor 15 include a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor.

[0017] The second sensor 16 detects the speed or acceleration of the piston 12. The second sensor 16 outputs the detected speed or acceleration of the piston 12 to the controller 50. The second sensor 16 is installed on the piston 12. An example of the second sensor 16 is an acceleration sensor.

[0018] The air cannon device 20 is a device that emits smoke. The air cannon device 20 emits smoke of a size and / or speed according to the detection result of the sensor device 10. The air cannon device 20 includes a main body 21, a throttle portion 23, an actuator 24, and a smoke generator 25.

[0019] The main body 21 constitutes the main part of the air cannon device 20. Inside the main body 21, a storage space is formed for storing smoke supplied from the smoke generating device 25. The main body 21 is formed with an opening 22 for expelling the smoke stored inside the main body 21 to the outside.

[0020] The throttling unit 23 is driven by a drive unit (not shown) to change the diameter of the opening 22. The change in the diameter of the opening 22 by the throttling unit 23 changes the volume of smoke emitted from the air cannon device 20. The throttling unit 23 is driven based on a control signal from the controller 50. The throttling unit 23 may include, for example, multiple metal shutter members (not shown). In this case, each of the multiple shutter members is provided to be movable in the radial direction of the opening 22. For example, each shutter member is rotatably supported by the main body 21 and connected to a rotating member that rotates by a driving force from the drive unit. When the rotating member rotates forward, each shutter member rotates relative to the main body 21 and moves radially inward of the opening 22. This reduces the diameter of the opening 22. When the rotating member rotates reversely, each shutter member rotates relative to the main body 21 and moves radially outward of the opening 22. This increases the diameter of the opening 22.

[0021] The actuator 24 is a device for expelling smoke contained inside the main body 21 to the outside. When the actuator 24 is driven, smoke is expelled from the air cannon device 20 to the outside as a mass of smoke. The smoke expelled from the air cannon device 20 to the outside may be spherical or ring-shaped. The actuator 24 compresses the smoke contained inside the main body 21, and the smoke compressed by the actuator 24 is expelled to the outside of the main body 21 through the opening 22. The speed of the smoke expelled from the air cannon device 20 changes by changing the pressure of the smoke applied by the actuator 24. The actuator 24 is driven based on a control signal input from the controller 50.

[0022] The smoke generating device 25 generates smoke and supplies the generated smoke to the inside of the main body 21. Examples of the smoke generating device 25 include a smoke generator, a smoke machine, and a fog machine. The smoke generating device 25 may generate aqueous smoke using, for example, a glycol-based smoke generating agent. The aqueous smoke preferably has odorless, non-irritating, non-toxic, and non-flammable properties. The smoke may be white, or may be red, blue, or other colored smoke. The air cannon device 20 may not be equipped with the smoke generating device 25. In this case, the storage space of the main body 21 may be filled with smoke using, for example, dry ice or incense.

[0023] The display 30 displays various data. The display 30 may be a display provided in a general facility such as a stadium or a venue where an event is held.

[0024] The controller 50 controls each part of the sensory system 100 .

[0025] (Internal configuration of controller 50) Next, the internal configuration of the controller 50 included in the sensory system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the controller 50 included in the sensory system.

[0026] The controller 50 includes a processor 51, a primary memory 52, a secondary memory 53, a communication IF 54, and an input / output IF 55. The processor 51, the primary memory 52, the secondary memory 53, the communication IF 54, and the input / output IF 55 are connected to each other via a bus.

[0027] A control program P1 is stored in the secondary memory 53. The processor 51 loads the control program P1 stored in the secondary memory 53 onto the primary memory 52. ​​The processor 51 then executes each process included in a control method M1 (described later) in accordance with instructions included in the control program P1 loaded onto the primary memory 52. ​​An example of a device that can be used as the processor 51 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). An example of a device that can be used as the primary memory 52 is a semiconductor RAM (Random Access Memory). An example of a device that can be used as the secondary memory 53 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0028] The control program P1 may be recorded on a computer-readable, non-transitory, tangible recording medium. This recording medium may be the secondary memory 53 or another recording medium. For example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like may be used as the other recording medium.

[0029] The communication IF 54 is an interface for performing wired or wireless communication with the first sensor 15 and the second sensor 16 of the sensor device 10 via a network. Interfaces that can be used as the communication IF 54 may include, for example, an interface for performing wired or wireless communication with the sensor device 10 via a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0030] The input / output IF 55 is an interface for connecting the air cannon device 20 and the display 30. Examples of the input / output IF 55 include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) and an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (registered trademark).

[0031] (Control method M1 of the sensory system 100) Next, a control method M1 executed by the sensory system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of the control method M1 executed by the sensory system 100.

[0032] The subject throws ball X toward sensor device 10. When ball X comes into contact with first surface 13A of head 13, piston 12 is displaced. A force is applied to piston 12 by the contact of ball X, and the displacement of piston 12 causes a change in the velocity or acceleration of piston 12.

[0033] 3, in step S11, the sensor device 10 outputs, as an output signal, the detection result of the force acting on the piston 12 after the ball X has come into contact with the piston 12 and / or the detection result of the velocity or acceleration of the displacement of the piston 12 to the controller 50. More specifically, in step S11, the first sensor 15 outputs, as an output signal, the detection result of the force acting on the piston 12 to the controller 50. Also, in step S11, the second sensor 16 outputs, as an output signal, the detection result of the velocity or acceleration of the piston 12 to the controller 50.

[0034] In step S12, the processor 51 generates a control signal based on the output signals from the first sensor 15 and the second sensor 16 input via the communication IF 54, and outputs the control signal to the air cannon device 20 via the input / output IF 55. The control signal includes information regarding at least one of the size and speed of smoke exhaled from the air cannon device 20. More specifically, the processor 51 may generate a control signal that controls the throttle unit 23 so that smoke of a size corresponding to the detection result of the first sensor 15 is exhaled. That is, the processor 51 generates a control signal so that smoke of a size corresponding to the force of the ball X that contacted the piston 12 is exhaled from the air cannon device 20. The processor 51 may also generate a control signal that controls the actuator 24 so that smoke is exhaled at a speed corresponding to the detection result of the second sensor 16. That is, the processor 51 generates a control signal so that smoke is exhaled from the air cannon device 20 at a speed corresponding to the speed of the ball X that contacted the piston 12.

[0035] In step S13, the processor 51 outputs the generated image signal to the display 30 via the input / output IF 55. In step S13, the processor 51 generates a display screen to be displayed on the display 30 based on the output signals from the first sensor 15 and the second sensor 16 input via the communication IF 54. The generated display screen includes information representing the detection results of the sensor device 10. The processor 51 outputs information related to the generated display screen to the display 30 as an image signal.

[0036] In step S14, the air cannon device 20 expels smoke at a size and / or speed corresponding to the detection result of the sensor device 10 based on the control signal input in step S12. That is, the air cannon device 20 expels smoke corresponding to the force and / or speed of the ball X that contacted the piston 12. In step S14, the air cannon device 20 drives the throttle unit 23 to set the opening diameter of the opening 22 to a size corresponding to the detection result of the first sensor 15. In step S14, the air cannon device 20 drives the actuator 24 to expel smoke. At this time, the air cannon device 20 drives the actuator 24 so that the speed of the exhaled smoke is a speed corresponding to the detection result of the second sensor 16.

[0037] In step S15, the display screen generated by the controller 50 in step S13 is displayed on the display 30. In step S15, the display 30 displays a display screen including data representing the detection result of the first sensor 15 and / or data representing the detection result of the second sensor 16. In this way, by displaying the detection results of the first sensor 15 and / or the second sensor 16 on the display 30, the user can associate at least either the size or speed of the smoke emitted from the air cannon device 20 with information regarding the power or speed of the ball X that actually contacted the sensor device 10.

[0038] According to the above-described bodily sensation system 100, smoke of a size or speed corresponding to the detection result of the sensor device 10 is emitted from the air cannon device 20. This allows the person experiencing the sensation to safely experience at least one of the force or speed of the ball X that has come into contact with the sensor device 10.

[0039] 〔summary〕 The immersive system according to aspect 1 of the present disclosure includes a movable part that is displaced by contact with an object, a sensor device that detects the force acting on the movable part or the speed or acceleration at which the movable part is displaced, an air cannon device that emits smoke, and a controller that controls at least either the size or speed of the smoke emitted from the air cannon device in accordance with the detection result of the sensor device.

[0040] According to the first aspect of the immersive system, smoke of a size or speed corresponding to the detection result of the sensor device is emitted from the air cannon device, allowing the user to safely experience at least one of the force or speed of an object that comes into contact with the sensor device.

[0041] In the immersive system according to aspect 2 of the present disclosure, in the above-described aspect 1, the sensor device includes a first sensor that detects a force acting on the movable part, and the controller controls the amount of smoke emitted from the air cannon device in accordance with the force acting on the movable part detected by the first sensor.

[0042] The immersive system according to aspect 3 of the present disclosure is, in aspect 1 or 2 above, such that the sensor device includes a second sensor that detects the speed or acceleration of displacement of the movable part, and the controller controls the speed of smoke emitted from the air cannon device based on the speed or acceleration of the movable part detected by the second sensor.

[0043] [Additional Notes] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 sensor device, 11 cylinder, 12 piston, 15 first sensor, 16 second sensor, 20 air cannon device, 50 controller, 100 sensation system

Claims

1. a sensor device having a movable part that is displaced by contact with an object, the sensor device detecting a force acting on the movable part or a velocity or acceleration at which the movable part is displaced; An air cannon device that emits smoke, and a controller that controls at least one of the size and speed of the smoke emitted from the air cannon device according to the detection result of the sensor device. Sensory system.

2. the sensor device includes a first sensor that detects a force acting on the movable part; The controller controls the amount of smoke emitted from the air cannon device in accordance with the force acting on the movable part detected by the first sensor. The sensation system according to claim 1 .

3. the sensor device includes a second sensor that detects a speed or an acceleration of displacement of the movable part, The controller controls the speed of the smoke emitted from the air cannon device based on the speed or acceleration of the movable part detected by the second sensor. The sensation system according to claim 1 .

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