In collaboration with local businesses, Gifu University's Kawasaki and Mouri Laboratory has combined a haptic interface and a 3D display, to develop a system that can simulate how objects feel to touch. "This 3D display system combines an image of your hand with computer graphics in real time to provide 3D information. What's more, the image is created as if it's at the position of your hand. In other words, this system can create sensations just as if you're touching a CG image in the virtual world. The force itself is fed back by the haptic interface robot HIRO III." HIRO III is the world's first device that can provide realistic kinesthetic sensations, including weight, to the user's five fingertips. Because this system has so many degrees of freedom - six for the arm and fifteen for the hand - it can operate in a large space. "To accurately impart a 3D force, you need compact sensors at the fingertips, and the robot must control the force very precisely. Also, the circuits that combine these functions must all fit into the palm of the robot's hand. Human fingers have many degrees of freedom, so this robot has 15 in the fingertips alone. That means 15 motors must be controlled simultaneously. It was very important to fit all the controllers into the palm of the hand." HIRO III could be applied in various fields; for example, to operate humanoid robots via a network, or record and transmit skilled techniques on the factory floor. "I think this system could be used for tactile diagnostic training. It's difficult to practice on actual patients, and even if physicians ask for volunteers, the volunteers don't have symptoms of illness. So it's hard for physicians to improve their tactile diagnostic skills. Right now, we're giving special priority to research on tactile screening for breast cancer. Although mammography screening is becoming more advanced, tactile examination is still necessary. This device could be used to help medical students learn the basics. I think it could also help women to do breast examinations themselves." Via: DigInfo TV Video