Project Armatus: Enhancing Somatosensory & Perceptual Stimulations for Physio-Rehabilitative VR
A wearable device that would allow the user to get physical feedback from the VR environment such as touch, thrust, squeeze as well as stimulation of weight through angular restrictive forces.
A wearable device that would allow the user to get physical feedback from the VR environment such as touch, thrust, squeeze as well as stimulation of weight through angular restrictive forces.
The Motivation
Though the VR experience has tremendously improved over the last decade, there’s still a long way to go before it can be used for applications beyond entertainment or gimmicks. With this project, we aim to improve somatosensory tactile stimulations for physio-rehabilitative applications.
Approach & Designs
We have devised a few mechanisms, the most successful of which utilises fluid channels to stimulate a false sense of weight through controlled bending resistance at joints. This is done using materials with tunable dynamic properties embedded within Compliant Fluid Channels.
Developments
The system is designed to function with dynamic materials such as Electrorheological Elastomers, Electrorheological Fluids, Shape Memory Alloys and Shape Memory Fabrics. The maximum force achieved so far is roughly equivalent to that of a 5kg dumbbell, with a minimum of 1kg and a resolution of 100g. The developments were supported and financed by the alumni of NITW.
My Role
I led Project Armatus from 2018 to 2020. My responsibilities included leading the team, designing concepts, engineering the electronics, managing relationships with partners etc.
The Team
The team included students and alumni of NIT Warangal and MNIT Jaipur. The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Centre for Innovation and Incubation from NIT Warangal had a significant role in the development of this project.
Status
The work has been licensed to a private firm based in India, who have been working on taking this project forward. One of our patents has already been granted and can be found here with the Patent Number 365460.
My Role
I led Project Armatus from 2018 to 2020. My responsibilities included leading the team, designing concepts, engineering the electronics, managing relationships with partners etc.
The Team
The team included students and alumni of NIT Warangal and MNIT Jaipur. The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Centre for Innovation and Incubation from NIT Warangal had a significant role in the development of this project.
Status
The work has been licensed to a private firm based in India, who have been working on taking this project forward. One of our patents has already been granted and can be found here with the Patent Number 365460.