HapticPanel: An Open System to Render Haptic Interfaces in Virtual Reality for Manufacturing Industry

van Deurzen, Bram; Goorts, Patrik; De Weyer, Tom; Vanacken, Davy; Luyten, Kris

doi:10.1145/3489849.3489901

Bram van Deurzen, Patrik Goorts, Tom De Weyer, Davy Vanacken, & Kris Luyten, HapticPanel: An Open System to Render Haptic Interfaces in Virtual Reality for Manufacturing Industry, in Yuichi Itoh, Kazuki Takashima, Parinya Punpongsanon, Misha Sra, Kazuyuki Fujita, Shigeo Yoshida, & Tham Piumsomboon (eds.), VRST ‘21: 27th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, Virtual Event / Osaka, Japan, December 8 - 10, 2021,75:1-75:3 (ACM 2021). DOI PDF

Abstract:

Virtual Reality (VR) allows simulation of machine control panels without physical access to the machine, enabling easier and faster initial exploration, testing, and validation of machine panel designs. However, haptic feedback is indispensable if we want to interact with these simulated panels in a realistic manner. We present HapticPanel, an encountered-type haptic system that provides realistic haptic feedback for machine control panels in VR. To ensure a realistic manipulation of input elements, the user's hand is continuously tracked during interaction with the virtual interface. Based on which virtual element the user intends to manipulate, a motorized panel with stepper motors moves a corresponding physical input element in front of the user's hand, enabling realistic physical interaction.