Haptic Interface for Hands-On Instruction in System Dynamics and Embedded Control

Haptic interface serves as an ideal context and platform for teaching both system dynamics and embedded control. At The University of Michigan, a traditional undergraduate mechanical engineering course in systems dynamics and a new undergraduate electrical engineering course in embedded control systems have been equipped with instructional modules based on two new single-axis haptic interface devices. The iTouch motor is a low-budget, single axis, voice-coil based haptic device intended for teaching system dynamics fundamentals. Students gain hands-on experience by assembling these motors from scratch, performing experiments, and comparing actual to theoretically predicted dynamic response. A second device called “The Box” features higher torque output and robustness for the embedded control systems course. Both device designs are presented and contrasted and results following from their

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: HAPTICS
• Authors: R. Brent Gillespie, Mark B. Hoffman, James S. Freudenberg
• Keywords: Embedded Control, Embedded Control Systems, Haptic Interface, HAPTICS 2003, Virtual Reality