Remote Physical Interaction System Using Sensor-Actuator Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems over networks lack the ability to effectively convey and simulate physical human interactions such as handshakes, embraces, or other gestures in a meaningful bi-directional manner, limiting user engagement and realism.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing sensors to detect user movements, encode the data, and transmit it over a network to activate corresponding actuators on a receiving system to simulate the actions, enabling both uni-directional and bi-directional communication of physical human interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors and actuators are used to detect and simulate physical movements, then the ability to convey physical human interactions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sensors to detect physical movements and creates digital representations (copies) of these movements that can be transmitted over networks. Actuators then reproduce these movements at remote locations, enabling physical interactions to be copied and transmitted without requiring complex direct physical connections between users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors, processors, and actuators as intermediary devices that mediate between physical movements and their remote transmission. These intermediaries convert physical movements into transmittable signals and back again, enabling complex physical interactions to be communicated through standardized communication protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bi-directional communication of physical interactions is implemented, then user engagement is improved, but the loss of information increases due to network transmission limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements bi-directional communication where sensors detect movements at both transmitting and receiving ends, allowing the receiving system to send feedback movements back to the original user. This feedback mechanism enables complete physical interaction cycles (such as handshakes or embraces) to be experienced by both parties, maintaining interaction fidelity despite network transmission.
3Speed
If physical movements are detected and transmitted in real-time, then the immediacy of communication is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic sampling of sensor data rather than continuous transmission, where movements are detected and transmitted at intervals sufficient to capture the essence of physical interactions. This periodic approach maintains real-time responsiveness while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous high-speed transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communicating physical human interactions over a communications network can include detecting physical movement of a user, generating data specifying the physical movement, and determining at least one action indicated by the data. The method further can include transmitting the action over a communications network to a receiving system and simulating the action in the receiving system.