Yuki Hashimoto

Sole Tactile Display Using Tactile Illusion by Vibration on Toenail

We present a novel wearable device for producing tactile sensations to a foot sole while walking. As a method for that, we extended on a tactile illusion in a finger. This illusion can provide tactile sensations in the finger pad when a vibrator is connected to a finger nail and the finger pad is in contact with surface. We applied such kind of tactile illusion to the foot. Following our approach, we developed a prototype of sole tactile display. Our prototype provides two applications. One application is improving the user’s motivation of walking by superimposing ground texture. Another application is supporting stable walking by presenting tactile sensations. By combining these applications, user can walk happily and safely.

Investigation of Touch Interfaces Using Multilayered Urushi Circuit

Urushi (Japanese lacquer) is a natural resin paint with electrical insulating capability. By using it as a base material and coating material for electronic circuits, it is possible to construct a circuit with an elegant appearance and feel. It is also possible to build a multilayered electronic circuit by using urushi as insulation layers. In this study, we investigate techniques to construct touch interfaces using a multilayered electronic circuit (urushi circuit). At first, we fabricated an urushi circuit with a touch electrode consisting of two layers. To improve its appearance, we fabricated urushi circuits in which all touch electrodes are arranged on the top layer and all wires are hidden in the bottom layer. Moreover, as an extension of the touch interface, we built a grid of touch electrodes that realizes two-dimensional touch sensing.

Characteristics of illusory vibration in the toe pad induced by vibration applied to toenail and toe force to surface

We present a novel method for providing a tactile sensations using a tactile illusion in the toe pad during gait. Our method extends an illusion previously described in the finger pad, in which tactile sensations were induced when a vibration was presented to the fingernail while the finger pad was in contact with a surface. In Preliminary test, we qualitatively confirmed that the illusion could be induced in the toe pad with a certain level of intensity of vibration and toe force applied to the surface. In Experiment, we quantitatively measured the minimum force for inducing the illusion with constant vibration intensity using a psychophysical approach. The results revealed that an average force of 326 gf was required to induce the illusion. In addition, informal testing suggested that force was negatively correlated with the temperature of the toe pad.

Virtual Scuba Diving System Utilizing the Sense of Weightlessness Underwater

We propose a virtual scuba diving system using an underwater head mounted display (UHMD). This system has two advantages. First, a strong sense of reality is obtained by combining the weightlessness obtained by diving with a highly immersive image presented by a waterproof UHMD. Second, the system is very versatile, such that a user can experience the system in easily accessible waters such as swimming pools or shallow water. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of the proposed system and the creation of underwater virtual reality (VR) content to provide a diving experience. The proposed system consists of the UHMD with a head tracking sensor, laptop PC, and a hose to protect the cables. The UHMD and laptop PC are connected by cables for power, communication, and video transmission. Each part is waterproof. The created VR content makes it possible to freely swim in the virtual undersea world by head tracking and operation of the controller. We conducted a pilot experiment to test the proposed system while users swam in a pool of about 4 m in depth. The UHMD was confirmed to have sufficient waterproofness at water depth of about 4 m. It is also suggested that it is possible to create the illusion that the water depth in the virtual underwater space is the user’s own water depth.

Development of Ball Game Defense Robot Based on Physical Properties and Motion of Human

The ball game robot has attracted considerable research attention in recent years. This paper describes the research and development of a ball game robot based on human physical properties and defensive motion. In particular, we focus on reproducing defensive motion. We will develop a defense robot that can be used in a training field and aim at building an interactive system. Considering the problem of strength and stability control, we attached weight to important operations. Because the arms and hands of the robot were built to imitate human physical properties, the robot can bounce a ball realistically. We conducted a quality assessment experiment to determine whether the robot operations indeed imitate a defensive motion and verified the validity of the experiment.

A design method to surface of Japanese lacquer by UV projection for diy fabrication

We propose design methods that process the surface of Urushi, a Japanese traditional coating material, with computer technology and ultraviolet (UV) light control. Urushi changes their physical condition by absorbing UV light energy. Our research introduces design method with this physical feature for Personal Fabrication by utilizing UV laser and galvanometer mirror or UV lamp and paper. Our contribution is to introduce the principle of the new fabrication method. This method is able to add a pattern onto the Urushi coated surface by controlling the UV light direction. We use two methods to control of the light. One method uses laser and galvanomirror. Another one uses a lamp and mask pattern. We introduce and compare these methods, and describe future of Urushi design.