Tubular Haptic Interface for Robotic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional user interface devices lack effective integration of haptic feedback and force sensing to accurately simulate human operator inputs for robotic systems, limiting the precision and control of robotic actions.
Innovation Solution
A user interface device with a tubular body featuring force sensors at opposed locations to detect inward forces from a human operator's hand, generating input signals that are processed to create robot control instructions, allowing the robot to simulate the operator's actions and produce corresponding signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional user interface devices are used without integrated force sensing, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of human operator inputs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple force sensing elements into a single integrated user interface device, merging the detection of forces from different fingers (thumb, index, middle, ring, and little fingers) into one unified structure. This integration allows the device to capture comprehensive hand gesture information while maintaining a cohesive design, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface device is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting forces from individual fingers, determining hand gestures, generating corresponding robotic actions, and providing haptic feedback. This multi-functionality enables a single device to replace multiple separate components, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If force sensors are integrated into the tubular body, then measurement precision of applied forces is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places force sensing elements at specific locations within the tubular body corresponding to where each finger contacts the device. Each force sensing element is positioned to detect forces from a specific finger (thumb, index, middle, ring, or little finger), creating local specialization that improves force detection accuracy without requiring a complex distributed sensor network throughout the entire structure.
3Productivity
If the robot simulates operator actions with high fidelity, then productivity of robotic tasks is improved, but device complexity increases due to advanced control processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements haptic feedback that provides tactile resistance to the operator's hand movements. This feedback loop allows the robot to simulate the operator's actions with high fidelity while the controller processes control instructions efficiently. The feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment of robotic responses, improving productivity without requiring excessively complex control processing.
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 the precision and control of robotic actions by accurately translating human operator inputs into robotic movements, improving the interaction between humans and robots through advanced haptic feedback and force sensing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality force sensors overlying the outer surface of the tubular body which are responsive to an inward force exerted by the hand of the operator
Data Source
AI summary
An operator interface that may be in communication with at least one processor, or at least one robot. The operator interface includes a body defined, in part, by an outer surface shaped to receive a hand of an operator, and a plurality of sensors overlying the outer surface of the body. In response to inward force exerted by the operator, the force sensors produce a plurality of input signals. The input signals represent information that may be used to guide the at least one robot in an environment or an avatar in a virtual world.