Development of an oral soft input device

Abstract

We have developed a sensor that contains three photo-reflectors and can measure the size and direction of pressure of silicone rubber film, and have developed a controller that generates information by the tongue. At first, this was used as a computer mouse to verify its operability. After that, the possibility of application as a communication device to a machine was examined. The first is a system in which a robot arm is used to hold a substrate for a healthy person, and a robot is used to assist soldering work using both hands of a human, and the operation is performed using a tongue. The second is a system for steering electric wheelchairs for the disabled. We evaluated the usefulness of the three-element oral soft input device through these two studies.