Wind-Pressure Haptic Firefighting Nozzle for Realistic VR Water Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual firefighting training systems lack the ability to provide realistic water pressure feedback, reducing training efficiency due to the difficulty in simulating the use of firefighting nozzles in a VR environment.
Innovation Solution
A wind pressure type of haptic firefighting nozzle interface that includes a flow controller, stream shaper, and haptic devices using wind pressure to simulate the spraying intensity and shape, along with a fire hose for repulsive force feedback, and vibration actuators for continuous spraying sensations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If basic controllers or modified occupation equipment are used in VR training, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but haptic feedback capability is insufficient and training realism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical vibration feedback mechanisms with a wind pressure generation system. A fan or blower generates controlled wind pressure that acts on the user's skin, substituting the mechanical vibration system with a fluid pressure system to achieve more realistic haptic feedback that simulates water flow and pressure sensations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using a fan or blower to generate wind pressure as the haptic feedback mechanism. The controlled airflow creates pressure sensations on the user's skin, utilizing gas pressure (pneumatics) to simulate the tactile experience of water flow and pressure during firefighting training, thereby enhancing realism while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Device complexity
If vibration feedback is used for haptic feedback, then device complexity is kept low, but the ability to simulate water pressure and spraying sensations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vibration feedback system with a wind pressure generation system using a fan or blower. This substitution transforms the haptic feedback mechanism from mechanical oscillation to fluid pressure application, enabling realistic simulation of water pressure and spraying sensations while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by employing a fan or blower to generate controlled wind pressure that acts on the user's skin. This pneumatic approach replaces mechanical vibration with gas pressure to simulate water flow characteristics, achieving authentic water pressure sensation without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If VR training uses basic controllers without occupation-specific equipment, then ease of operation is improved, but immersion and training effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates occupation-specific haptic feedback functionality into a VR controller that maintains basic ease of operation. The wind pressure generation system serves multiple functions: it provides directional feedback, simulates water flow pressure, indicates spray patterns, and enhances immersion, thereby making the controller adaptable to various firefighting training scenarios while remaining user-friendly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic wind pressure generation to create immersion-enhancing haptic feedback that adapts to different training scenarios. The fan or blower system can simulate various water flow conditions, pressure levels, and spray patterns, providing versatile occupation-specific feedback while maintaining the simplicity and ease of operation characteristic of basic VR controllers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances training efficiency by providing realistic haptic feedback, allowing users to experience the feel of using a firefighting nozzle, improving immersion and realism in virtual firefighting scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first haptic device for providing haptic feedback corresponding to the spraying intensity and the spraying shape determined according to control through the flow controller and the stream shaper using wind pressure
Implementation Method 2
a main motor that generates rotational force according to rotation
Implementation Method 3
a servo motor for providing a wind pressure shape corresponding to the spraying shape by adjusting an angle of the corresponding main motor
Implementation Method 4
a compressed air nozzle that provides a path for injecting compressed air from an external compressed air pump into the fire hose
Implementation Method 5
a second haptic device for providing haptic feedback of the same sensation as the repulsive force by the water pressure of an actual fire hose and the expansion pressure of the actual fire hose through the fire hose
Implementation Method 6
a vibration actuator that generates vibration to feel the continuous spraying of water
Data Source
AI summary
A wind pressure type of haptic firefighting nozzle interface that is interworked with virtual reality (VR) content for virtual firefighting training is provided. The wind pressure type of haptic firefighting nozzle interface includes: a flow controller for adjusting a spraying intensity of water sprayed on the VR content; a stream shaper for adjusting a spray shape according to a radiation angle of the water sprayed on the VR content; and at least one first haptic device for providing haptic feedback corresponding to the spraying intensity and the spraying shape determined according to control through the flow controller and the stream shaper using wind pressure.