パウダブレーキと定トルクばねを用いた外骨格型ハプティックデバイスの開発

抄録

This study proposes an exoskeleton haptic device using a powder brake and a constant torque spring. The powder brake can change the torque resistance in real time, and the constant torque spring can generate a constant torque. This device is of a wearable type, and is worn on the operator's hand. By combining the powder brake and the constant torque spring, it is possible to generate an arbitrary passive force on the fingertip. Because this device generates passive force alone, it has an advantage from the viewpoint of safety. The proposed device is applied to the master system to control the slave system in a virtual reality (VR) device. Consequently, the operator can perceive the contact force between the VR device and the VR object. VR object exists in VR space, and can provide the contact force with arbitrary plasticity and elasticity. The experimental results confirm the validity of the proposed system.