Contact Location Display

As an alternative to other forms of tactile display, we have investigated the idea of simply displaying the centroid of contacts along with force feedback. In concept this would be analagous to representing contact as if it were a ball bearing moving over the surface of a finger. Details are provided in Kuchenbecker et al. 2004 and Provancher et al. 2003 and in Provancher, et al., "Contact Location Display for Haptic Perception of Curvature and Object Motion," International Journal of Robotics Research, Vol 24, No 9, 2005

• Video illustrating contact location display (80 MB Quicktime movie - right click to download)

Contact Location Display concept (General case and planar version of concept)

There have been several incarnations of this device. The current design incorporates a DC motor, push-pull wires and thimble attached to a PHANToM haptic device.

• location display on Phantom:
  

Leadscrew information: Kerk Motion Products -- Mini Series Lead Screws BF2000, 0.075 in/rev lead

-- WillP? - 20 Oct 2004
William Provancher