How a Hexapod Brings the Sense of Touch to Mixed Reality

The hexapod does more than simply follow the tool. Once contact occurs, it actively generates force feedback based on the properties of the virtual object.

In the demonstration system, researchers created a virtual tennis ball. The force required to deform a real tennis ball was first measured experimentally. This data was then used to create a haptic model. When a user pressed on the virtual ball with a handheld tool, the hexapod reproduced the same force-deflection behavior that would be experienced with a real object.

The result was a highly synchronized visual and tactile experience where users could both see and feel the virtual object deform.

The authors identify several applications where this approach could provide significant benefits:

• Dental training simulators
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery training
• Orthopedic and pedicle screw placement training
• Maintenance and repair simulations
• Industrial assembly training
• Product design and evaluation systems

Because users can work with realistic handheld tools rather than tethered styluses, the training experience more closely resembles real-world operation.

This mixed-reality research demonstrates an innovative application of hexapod technology beyond traditional positioning and alignment tasks. Acting as an intelligent six-axis haptic interface, the hexapod continuously tracks the user's tool, positions itself beneath the virtual object, and generates realistic force feedback only when contact occurs.

The result is a highly immersive system that combines the flexibility of mixed reality with the physical sensation of touching and manipulating virtual objects. As training simulators continue to evolve, precision hexapods are likely to play an increasingly important role in creating realistic human-machine interaction environments.

For more information read the paper “Visuo-Haptic Mixed Reality Simulation Using Unbound Handheld Tools”