Graphics enhanced version of this site
Magnetic Levitation Haptic Consortium
Head: Ralph Hollis
Contact: Ralph Hollis (rhollis@cs.cmu.edu)
Mailing address:
Carnegie Mellon University
Robotics Institute
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Associated lab/group: Microdynamic Systems Laboratory
For more information, see this project's homepage.
Magnetic levitation haptic devices allow users to interact with computed environments by manipulating a handle that is levitated by magnetic means. Users can translate and rotate the handle while feeling forces and torques from the virtual environment. The motors, encoders, linkages, gears, belts, cables, and bearings of traditional haptic devices are simply dispensed with in favor of a direct electrodynamic connection to the handle held by the user.
The Microdynamic Systems Laboratory is working to provide low-cost high fidelity magnetic levitation haptic interfaces to additional researchers under an NSF Major Research Equipment grant by re-engineering our old magnetic levitation system to provide much higher performance while drastically reducing its cost. We are currently building a batch of 9 new systems for distribution to members of the magnetic levitation haptic consortium. The picture above illustrates the new systems.
The purpose of the consortium is to foster greater utilization of this technology, to share research experiences and results, to develop and share haptic rendering software using the magnetic levitation haptic devices, and to work together as a community to apply the developed knowledge to important problems.