The Maxima Haptics Package is a free software package for symbolic analysis of linear models of haptic devices and teleoperators. From a mechanical model of the haptic device, the slave robot and a formulation of the controller, the package calculates the well known ”hybrid matrix” representation of the whole system. From the acquired hybrid matrix, the linear performance measures and external device characteristics can be calculated, e.g. force bandwidth and free air inertia. The Maxima Haptics Package currently allows for linear analysis of single-degree-offreedom haptic devices and teleoperators with kinesthetic feedback. The intention is to provide a common language for the haptic community for exchange of symbolic models and scientific publication of analytical results. The Maxima Haptics Package is released to the public for the first time ever during the WorldHaptics Conference 2005.
Göran A. V. Christiansson