More than touch and hearing, you can feel temperature in VR

[Abstract] AxonVR's products are mainly aimed at business users, especially those who design and manufacture, and are used to make training simulators. If the HaptX system is welcomed, it is possible to launch products for the consumer market in the future, including theme parks or similar entertainment venues.

The Verge Chinese Station reported on March 4

Visual and auditory are very important in virtual reality technology, but in addition to these two, other senses also need to be valued, such as touch. At present, most of the virtual reality environment's realization of the tactile sensation is through the vibration of the controller and the squeaky sound, but it is not really true. At this year's GDC Game Developers Conference, a company called AxonVR showed a brand-new haptic system that looked great and even reminded me of Dune's pain.

The device on the image below is part of AxonVR's so-called HaptX platform, which includes a set of tactile and force feedback exoskeletons. This haptic system uses very tiny actuators that apply different pressures to the skin and can also change the temperature to simulate a variety of different haptic effects. In combination with virtual reality headsets, high-precision simulation of the target is achieved. Actually, AxonVR is not the first company to think of using pressure and temperature to simulate the tactile experience, but in actual effect, it is much better than simple tactile vibration.

Now, AxonVR has developed a prototype that distributes the array actuators on the plane and combines them into a larger box. To use this box, you must put your palms up in the straps at the bottom of the box and wear the HTC Vive. In this way we can experience different feelings like an apple, a spider or a deer. However, because this hand is fixed to experience the touch, it cannot be interacted. You need to use the other hand to control the target through the handle. When you put your target on your palm, the system will simulate the feeling of touching the skin. The contact of a specific point, or the virtual deer standing on your palm, will feel very realistic.

At present, the number of analog-tactile actuators is still relatively small. At present, AxonVR has used 200. Although the surface looks a lot, it is not enough to completely deceive our skin. For example, the deer's hoof touches the palm of his hand and it feels a little too big. And when I experience putting a spider on the palm of my hand, although it looks like chilly, the simulation on the weight is still somewhat better than the coordination. After all, the spider's eight legs need to simulate different touch sensations, and the current number of actuators is not enough to bear this density.

However, once the temperature control system is working, the realism of the tactile simulation will be greatly improved. I grab a handful of snow in the virtual reality world and my hands will immediately become cold. And when my hand is near the stove, the temperature of the actuator will increase rapidly, but rest assured that we will not be burned, but will obviously feel a burning sensation. Although the current AxonVR system can not simulate the temperature difference in the area, at least it is now evident that the heat or cold.

At present, this AxonVR system seems to be relatively primitive, almost a prototype tester, so the long-term goal of AxonVR is to miniaturize the simulator. AxonVR's CRO Joe Michael said that for devices such as temperature control systems, the use of liquid heating and cooling, it is difficult to use on wearable devices, or reduce the volume is also a very difficult thing. Although the idea of ​​the entire system is great, it is not yet able to simulate texture changes. For example, the difference between skin contact with an apple or a grenades, but in the future such characteristics will gradually improve.

AxonVR's products are mainly aimed at business users, especially those who design and manufacture, and are used to make training simulators. If the HaptX system is welcomed, it is possible to launch products for the consumer market in the future, including theme parks or similar entertainment venues.

Although it seems to be far away, and this is a long process, but like many virtual reality peripherals, AxonVR represents one of the future development trends, and hope that more people can join in. (Author: Adi Robertson compiled: Human)

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【The relevant rights in the Chinese language of The Verge's works in the United States are owned by Tencent Corporation. Without authorization, they may not be reproduced or excerpted. 】

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