Robotic Manipulator Synchronizing Physical Objects with Virtual Reality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual reality (VR) systems fail to provide users with a seamless physical interaction experience, as they can only 'virtually' interact with objects, leading to sensory inconsistencies between visual and tactile perceptions, breaking the illusion of the VR world.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a robotic mechanism to precisely synchronize the movement and orientation of real-world objects with their virtual counterparts, allowing users to physically interact with dynamic objects in the real world while immersed in a VR environment, enhancing the realism and immersion of the VR experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced haptic systems are used to provide tactile information, then the user receives some tactile feedback, but the user still cannot feel and touch the virtual objects, resulting in sensory inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical object as an intermediary between the virtual environment and the user's tactile senses. This physical object is manipulated by a robotic system to coincide with virtual objects in the VR display, allowing the user to touch and feel real objects that correspond to virtual objects, thereby resolving the sensory inconsistency without requiring complex haptic feedback systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex haptic feedback mechanical systems with a simpler approach: using a robotic manipulator to physically move real objects into the user's hand. This substitution achieves tactile feedback through natural object interaction rather than through complex haptic actuators and force feedback mechanisms
2Manufacturing precision
If a robotic mechanism is used to precisely synchronize physical objects with virtual objects, then the user experiences seamless physical interactions, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic manipulator serves multiple functions: it tracks the user's hand position, follows the virtual object's movement, positions the physical object precisely, and synchronizes the interaction timing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving high synchronization precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from hand tracking sensors and VR system data to continuously adjust the robotic manipulator's position and timing. This closed-loop feedback ensures precise synchronization between physical and virtual objects while allowing the system to adapt to user movements, maintaining accuracy without requiring overly complex mechanical structures
3Ease of operation
If the robotic mechanism moves the physical object into contact with the user, then physical interaction is achieved, but safety concerns arise from potential unintended contact
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by tracking the user's hand position and predicting the interaction timing before actual contact occurs. The robotic manipulator prepares the physical object in advance and only moves it into contact when the VR system indicates an interaction event is occurring, ensuring safe and intentional contact
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic manipulator dynamically adjusts its movement based on real-time feedback from hand tracking and VR system events. The system can pause, slow down, or reverse movements if unexpected situations arise, providing adaptive safety control that maintains interaction capability while minimizing safety risks
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing a user of a virtual reality (VR) system with physical interactions with an object in the real world or in the surrounding physical space while they are concurrently interacting in the virtual world with a corresponding virtual object. The real world object is dynamic with the system including a physical interaction system that includes a robot with a manipulator for moving, positioning, and/or orienting the real world object so as to move it into contact with the user. For example, the physical object is moved into contact with a tracked body part of the user, such as a hand, a tracked contact surface on the user's body, and so on, at a time that is accurately synchronized with a time of an interaction event occurring in the virtual world being created by the VR system.