Automotive Modeling
The Tactile Device Interface (TDI) application is a haptic interaction module developed for a major automotive company.  Utilizing a large-scale haptic device, TDI adds touch feedback to virtual car prototyping capabilities.  TDI enables more cost effective and realistic design and evaluation of car ergonomics prior to the manufacture of physical models.

As part of the TDI project, Novint developed a new and unique haptic rendering algorithm that allows touch interaction with less than perfect digital models.  This capability is significant in that it allows haptically enabled evaluation much earlier in the product design cycle.  This algorithm allows touch feedback to generate fingertip interactions with virtual models more realistically.  We also added the ability to read Alias Wavefront (i.e., *.obj) format files and stereolithography format files to our collection of CAD surface model readers.

Tire Modeling
We have researched and built a proof of concept application for an Instant Prototyping™ product used in the tire manufacturing process.  The goal of the effort is to mitigate the need for physical prototypes to be developed in the tire manufacturing process.  This will lead to significant time and cost savings and will further validate our Instant Prototyping™ technology and approach.

Currently, as part of some tire manufacturing processes, an artist takes two-dimensional CAD drawings and literally sculpts a large (e.g., can be as large as 15 feet in diameter for tractor tires) plaster model.  The model is evaluated using sight and touch and is physically modified as required.  Tire design personnel take measurements and run their hands across it to evaluate curves and angles.  The model is then used to develop the actual molds for the tires. The plaster model building process is expensive and is prone to human error.  A plaster model can cost approximately $400,000 to develop and several plaster models may need to be built during the tire design and manufacturing process.  Sometimes a company will even move forward with a known flawed design because it is too expensive to re-build the plaster model.

Proof of concept of the tire evaluation application

Our Instant Prototyping technology will allow tire manufacturers to significantly decrease the cost and time required to develop new tires.  Users will be able to see and feel their designs in the digital realm so that fewer plaster models will need to be built.  Moreover, our technology will allow tire design personnel to evaluate and modify their designs in ways that are not currently possible.  Our software will automatically load in the 2D tread designs and instantaneously create a virtual prototype.   Designers will have the same evaluation capabilities as with a plaster model and digitally enabled enhancements as well.  A designer will be able to feel across a tread, feel the transition to the sidewall, and take measurements with specially designed virtual tools.  If errors are found, digital design tools can be used to modify the 3D virtual prototype.  After a digital tire model is evaluated and modified, our software can be used to output to an automated manufacturing system, eliminating much of the human error that is currently part of the tire design and manufacturing process.

Our software will save hundreds of thousands of dollars for each tire that is designed and manufactured while helping remove errors and flaws. Longer term, our technology can be used on outputting to an automated manufacturing system to create molds, and even rapid artistic design.

Undersea Exploration
Novint is working with an oceanographic institute to integrate haptic interaction into undersea exploration systems (i.e., underwater vehicles).  In this three-year effort, we are developing a 3D touch-enabled mission rehearsal system (i.e., simulation) and real-time control system for underwater vehicle operations.  

3 views from the v-Dig application are shown. While planning an underwater mission, a user can see the underwater vehicle from several angles, including the view that will be seen during an actual mission. The right panel shows a brush digging through the silt which the user can feel.

During the first year of this effort, we developed a touch-enabled, PC-based, virtual environment (VE) for mission rehearsal.  This VE has been set-up to help plan and practice undersea archeological expeditions.  The user is able to control the motion of a model of a remotely operated underwater vehicle.  The user can control the manipulators (i.e., robot arms) on the model and interact with the simulation of the bottom terrain and simulated archeological objects.  The user can “dig” into the bottom using various excavation tools attached to the manipulator (e.g., brush and vacuum tools) and feel any collisions with the archeological artifacts.  The bottom simulation is such that it acts like a mud bottom.  Motion constraints can be added to the manipulator to limit its range of motion (e.g., avoid regions known to have fragile artifacts).  During the second year of the effort, we will be extending the simulation to allow updating of the VE from the underwater vehicle’s sensors and to directly control its operation.  We will be able to update the model of the bottom in real-time using sonar and video sensor information and we will be able to control the manipulators on the real vehicle.

Telerobotic Underwater Vehicle Control
We are currently developing a mission planning system for an autonomous underwater vehicle.  This system will allow users to plan the overall mission for a CETUS™ (Composite Endoskeleton Testbed Untethered Underwater Vehicle Systems) system.  This underwater vehicle is a new low-cost unmanned underwater vehicle used for undersea search and inspection.  Our mission planning systems allows the user to control the vehicle and understand its status in a straightforward, easy-to-use manner. 

CETUS™ Unmanned Underwater Vehicle