A new research from the University of Bristol lead by Dr. Anne Roudaut is about to bring the sensory experience with virtual reality to new heights.
With the creation of Mantis, a robotic arm invention is the first system of its kind that enables light, affordable and accessible haptic force feedback.
To explain what haptic force sensory means, it is important to note that when it comes to already existing robotic wearable device, only two human sensations are used: visual and touch.
Mantis was created to be compatible and directly connected with virtual reality experiences. Dr. Roudaut explains further:
“Humans already have a great sense of touch. Mantis expands on this innate ability by enabling people to touch and feel 3D objects, adding more depth to the VR experience,” says lead researcher Dr Anne Roudaut, from Bristol’s Department of Computer Science.
“Imagine a user playing a game in Virtual Reality with Mantis attached to their fingers. They could then touch and feel virtual objects, thus immersing themselves both visually and physically in an alternative dimension.”
Supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Leverhulme Trust, Mantis is the future of virtual realities bringing the concept of an immersive experience to new realities.