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Engineering Haptic Devices

  • Open Access
  • 2023
  • Open Access
  • Book

About this book

This is an open access book.

In this third edition of Engineering Haptic Devices the software part was rewritten from scratch and now includes even more details on tactile and texture interaction modalities. The kinematics section was improved to extend beyond a pure knowledge explanation to a comprehensive guideline on how to actually do and implement haptic kinematic functions. The control section was reworked incorporating some hands-on experience on control implementation on haptic systems. The system, actuator and sensor design chapters were updated to allow easier access to the content.

This book is written for students and engineers faced with the development of a task-specific haptic system. Now 14 years after its first edition, it is still a reference for the basics of haptic interaction and existing haptic systems and methods as well as an excellent source of information for technical questions arising in the design process of systems and components.

Following a system engineering approach, it is divided into two parts with Part I containing background and reference information as a knowledge basis. Typical application areas of haptic systems and a thorough analysis of haptics as an interaction modality are introduced. The role of users in the design of haptic systems is discussed and relevant design and development stages are outlined. Part II presents all related challenges in the design of haptic systems including general system architecture and control structures, kinematics, actuator principles and all types of sensors you may encounter doing haptic device development. Beside these hardware and mechanical topics, further chapters examine state-of-the-art interfaces to operate the devices, and hardware and software development to push haptic systems to their limits.

Table of Contents

  1. Basics

    1. Frontmatter

    2. Chapter 1. Motivation and Application of Haptic Systems

      • Open Access
      Thorsten A. Kern, Christian Hatzfeld
      This chapter delves into the fascinating world of haptics, the sense of touch and movement. It begins by defining haptics and exploring its historical and philosophical significance. The author discusses the complexities of haptic research, including the classification of interactions and the role of perception. The chapter also highlights the evolution of haptic research disciplines and introduces four general classes of applications for haptic systems. Additionally, it touches on the artistic and aesthetic aspects of haptics, providing a well-rounded perspective on this multifaceted field. The chapter is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the breadth and depth of haptic systems and their applications.
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    3. Chapter 2. Haptics as an Interaction Modality

      • Open Access
      Christian Hatzfeld, Thorsten A. Kern
      The chapter delves into the intricacies of haptic perception, a crucial aspect of haptics as an interaction modality. It begins with a summary of relevant topics from scientific disciplines dealing with haptic perception, essential for engineers designing haptic systems. The text then delves into the physiological properties of tactile and kinaesthetic receptors, providing a detailed classification based on their size and adaptation behavior. The spatial distribution and functions of these receptors are also discussed, with a focus on their relevance for detecting object properties and controlling movements. The chapter also explores the psychophysical description of perception, including the psychometric function and various psychometric procedures used to determine thresholds and other parameters. Additionally, it highlights the factors influencing haptic perception, such as temperature and contact area, and discusses the perception of forces and kinematic measures. Throughout, the text emphasizes the practical applications of this knowledge for designing haptic systems and understanding human-machine interaction.
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    4. Chapter 3. The User’s Role in Haptic System Design

      • Open Access
      Thorsten A. Kern, Christian Hatzfeld, Fady Youssef
      The chapter delves into the crucial role of the user in haptic system design, emphasizing the user as a mechanical load. It explores the frequency ranges of human movements and models the user's mechanical interaction with haptic systems. The authors present a detailed analysis of user impedance, including various grasps and touches, and provide practical models for improving haptic system design. The chapter also discusses the significance of user variability and the quality of haptic interaction, making it a comprehensive resource for specialists in the field.
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    5. Chapter 4. Development of Haptic Systems

      • Open Access
      Thorsten A. Kern, Christian Hatzfeld
      The chapter introduces the development of haptic systems by applying mechatronic design principles, integrating expertise from mechanical engineering, robotics, and control automation. It presents a detailed V-model adapted for haptic system design, breaking down the process into five stages: system requirements, system design, modeling and design of components, realization and verification, and validation. Each stage is elaborated with specific tasks and methodologies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to haptic system development. The chapter also highlights the importance of considering psychophysics and neurobiology in haptic system design, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach.
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  2. Designing Haptic Systems

    1. Frontmatter

    2. Chapter 5. Identification of Requirements

      • Open Access
      Jörg Reisinger, Thorsten A. Kern, Christian Hatzfeld
      The chapter begins by emphasizing the necessity of clarifying customer motivations at the start of a technical design process. It highlights the common issue of customers expressing wishes as solutions rather than requirements, leading to project failures. The author introduces a structured approach to interaction analysis, including task analysis, movement capabilities, and mechanical impedance, to derive meaningful technical requirements. The chapter also explores the use of experiments and tools to help customers describe haptic impressions, such as comparing objects and using 3D-printed samples. Additionally, it discusses the importance of safety considerations in the design process, including risk analysis and the application of relevant safety standards. The chapter concludes with a focus on the design of mechanical controls, providing guidelines for optimizing the haptic behavior of rotary switches and push buttons. Throughout, the chapter offers practical examples and methodologies to enhance the design and development of haptic systems, making it a valuable resource for professionals in the field.
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    3. Chapter 6. General System Structures

      • Open Access
      Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Thorsten A. Kern
      The chapter 'General System Structures' delves into the intricate design considerations for haptic devices, categorizing them into four primary structures: open-loop and closed-loop admittance and impedance controlled systems. It explains the fundamental concepts of impedance and admittance, highlighting the differences between open-loop and closed-loop systems. The chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each system, such as the precision and noise resistance of closed-loop systems versus the simplicity of open-loop designs. It also provides practical examples and applications of these systems, including tactile displays and high-stiffness haptic interfaces. The detailed analysis and comparison of these systems make this chapter an invaluable resource for engineers and researchers in the field of haptic technology.
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    4. Chapter 7. Control of Haptic Systems

      • Open Access
      Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Thomas Opitz, Oliver Meckel
      The chapter on 'Control of Haptic Systems' delves into the essentials of controlling technical systems to achieve safe and reliable behavior, with a focus on haptic systems. It outlines the importance of stability, dynamic behavior, and performance, using mathematical models and control techniques. The text covers various methods for system description, stability analysis, and control law design, highlighting the unique challenges and solutions for haptic systems. It also discusses the control of multi-input systems and the design of stable control laws for haptic systems, making it a valuable resource for professionals in the field.
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    5. Chapter 8. Kinematic Design

      • Open Access
      Fady Youssef, Sebastian Kassner
      The chapter on kinematic design begins by outlining the major goals and definitions in haptic interfaces, such as the role of kinematics and the classification of mechanisms into serial, parallel, and hybrid types. It then delves into the design process, starting with defining the structure of the mechanism, solving kinematic equations, and finally dimensioning the mechanism to optimize performance. The chapter highlights the unique challenges and advantages of each mechanism type, emphasizing the importance of workspace optimization and avoiding singular positions. Additionally, it discusses the dynamics of haptic interfaces, including the use of simulation tools to model and optimize the behavior of these mechanisms. This comprehensive approach makes the chapter a valuable resource for professionals and specialists in the field of haptics and robotics.
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    6. Chapter 9. Actuator Design

      • Open Access
      Thorsten A. Kern, Henry Haus, Marc Matysek, Stephanie Sindlinger
      The chapter on 'Actuator Design' by Thorsten A. Kern offers a detailed guide for selecting appropriate actuators for haptic applications. It begins by emphasizing the importance of understanding actuator principles and their dynamic ranges. The author then provides an overview of various actuator principles, including electrodynamic, piezoelectric, and magnetic principles, among others. Each principle is discussed in terms of its working mechanism, advantages, and typical applications. The chapter also includes practical guidelines for selecting actuators based on specific requirements, such as force, displacement, and control strategy. Additionally, the author highlights the importance of considering the dynamic properties of actuators and provides insights into the design and control of electrodynamic actuators. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the challenges and future directions in actuator design for haptic systems. Throughout the chapter, the author emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to actuator selection and design, making it a valuable resource for professionals working in the field of haptics and robotics.
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    7. Chapter 10. Sensor Design

      • Open Access
      Jacqueline Gölz, Christian Hatzfeld
      The chapter begins by defining what a sensor is and why it is crucial for every technical system. It uses the example of grasping an object to illustrate how sensors translate information into electrical signals for processing. The text delves into the transformation of non-electric parameters into electric pulses, discussing the transfer function and the influence of environmental factors like temperature and vibration. It also covers static and dynamic transmission behavior, outlining key characteristics such as offset, hysteresis, and noise. The chapter highlights the importance of understanding the measurement chain in detail to accurately describe sensor performance. It provides a classification of sensors based on sensing principles and application fields, including mechanical, optical, and thermal domains. The text emphasizes the significance of considering the constraints and requirements of haptic systems when selecting sensors. It concludes with a focus on the design criteria for force sensors, offering practical insights into the selection and design process.
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    8. Chapter 11. Interface Design

      • Open Access
      Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Thorsten A. Kern
      This chapter delves into the critical aspects of designing IT interfaces for haptic feedback systems, with a particular focus on the speed of data transmission. It distinguishes between spatially distributed tactile displays and primarily kinaesthetic systems, highlighting the challenges and solutions for each. The chapter explores the use of bus systems, serial automation technology network protocols like CAN and TTCAN, and cloud-based communication for remote haptic interaction. It also discusses bandwidth reduction techniques, such as event-based haptics and movement extrapolation, to optimize the performance of haptic devices. Additionally, the chapter provides insights into ergonomic standards for haptic and tactile interactions, making it a comprehensive resource for professionals in the field.
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    9. Chapter 12. Haptic Software Design

      • Open Access
      Arsen Abdulali, Seokhee Jeon
      The chapter begins by introducing the field of haptic software design, which involves the creation of software that synthesizes and displays haptic content. It discusses the classification of haptic software into algorithms that encode abstract information and those that simulate haptic interaction. The focus then shifts to haptic rendering, which is crucial for enabling users to explore and perceive haptic properties. The chapter delves into the different approaches to haptic modeling, including deterministic and stochastic data-driven methods, and measurement-based modeling. It also explores the use of physics-based simulation in haptic rendering and the challenges associated with achieving high realism. The chapter highlights the importance of haptic feedback in various applications, such as virtual and mixed reality, and discusses the design of haptic user interfaces. Additionally, it provides a detailed overview of the structure and contents of the chapter, including examples and case studies that illustrate the concepts discussed. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of haptic software design in enhancing user experience and interaction in various domains.
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    10. Chapter 13. Evaluation of Haptic Systems

      • Open Access
      Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Jörg Reisinger, Carsten Neupert, Christian Hatzfeld, Wenliang Zhou
      This chapter delves into the evaluation of haptic systems, focusing on the verification and validation methods used to ensure these systems meet specified requirements. It highlights the importance of task-centered and user-centered evaluation methods, providing practical tips for measuring force-dependent values, dynamic behavior, and mechanical impedance. The chapter also discusses the significance of standardized testing and the unique challenges posed by the design of task-specific haptic interfaces. Additionally, it explores the role of psychophysical parameters and the evaluation of haptic displays, making it a valuable resource for professionals seeking to enhance the performance and usability of haptic systems.
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    11. Chapter 14. Examples of Haptic System Development

      • Open Access
      Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Thorsten Meiss, Nataliya Koev, Jörg Reisinger
      The chapter delves into the development and application of haptic systems, particularly focusing on touch interfaces in the automotive industry and haptic feedback systems for medical procedures. It begins with a detailed look at the evolution of touch input devices in vehicles, highlighting the shift from traditional buttons to touchpads and touchscreens. The chapter then explores the technical framework and challenges of integrating haptic feedback into these devices, emphasizing the importance of vibrotactile technologies. Additionally, it presents a comprehensive case study on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS touchpads, showcasing advanced haptic feedback mechanisms. The chapter also discusses the HapCath system, a revolutionary haptic catheter that provides force feedback during vascular interventions, enhancing the precision and safety of medical procedures. Throughout, the chapter offers a deep dive into the technological advancements and practical applications of haptic systems, making it a valuable resource for professionals in the field.
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    12. Chapter 15. Conclusion

      • Open Access
      Thorsten A. Kern, Christian Hatzfeld, Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Arsen Abdulali, Jacqueline Gölz, Jörg Reisinger, Fady Youssef
      This chapter delves into the intricate design process of haptic systems, highlighting the need for a thorough understanding of both technical and human factors. It begins by stressing the importance of defining clear requirements and using appropriate tools to communicate with customers effectively. The chapter then explores the technical design process, emphasizing the significance of choosing the right structure and kinematics for haptic systems. It also discusses the selection of suitable actuators and the integration of force sensors, which are becoming increasingly important in haptic devices. Additionally, the chapter provides insights into the integration of haptic devices with standard interface technology and the use of sophisticated software solutions to restore the impression of touch. Throughout the chapter, the authors emphasize the need for engineers to stay updated with the latest developments in research and industry to avoid common mistakes and leverage recent advancements in the field of haptic devices.
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Title
Engineering Haptic Devices
Editors
Thorsten A. Kern
Christian Hatzfeld
Alireza Abbasimoshaei
Copyright Year
2023
Electronic ISBN
978-3-031-04536-3
Print ISBN
978-3-031-04535-6
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04536-3

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