Goals

Enhancing Realistic Touch Simulation Through Wearable Technology

The primary goal of the TronHAPTICS project was to develop a wearable glove capable of dynamically simulating the sensations of touch. By leveraging hand tracking technology and advanced collision models, the glove adjusts resistance in real time to mimic the feel of interacting with virtual objects. This system aims to provide users with a realistic tactile experience, enhancing immersion in virtual environments and accessibility for applications such as remote training, rehabilitation, and virtual prototyping.

Another key objective was to ensure that the haptic glove remained lightweight, cost-effective, and comfortable for extended use. Using readily available materials and modular components, the project aimed to reduce production costs while maintaining precise and responsive feedback. This approach helps make sophisticated haptic technology accessible to a wider audience, including educational institutions, research labs, and users in underserved communities.

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Programming

Optimized Virtual Interaction Through AI-Enhanced Hand Tracking

To achieve precise touch simulation, a control program was developed using Python and C++ to interface with the haptic glove. A laptop camera captured the user’s hand movements, and an AI model was employed to detect hand positions and colors, improving tracking accuracy and precision. This data was integrated into a VR environment, where collision models determined interactions with virtual objects. The collision feedback was then transmitted via Bluetooth to the glove, dynamically adjusting servo resistance to simulate realistic tactile sensations in real time.

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Results

Functional and Accessible Mechanical Design

The haptic glove successfully recreated hand movements and applied dynamic resistance with a mechanically simple yet effective design. The system utilized small servo motors, a breadboard for circuitry, fishing line for tendon-like actuation, 3D-printed finger mounts, and the wearable glove itself. While all components were inexpensive, the glove demonstrated precise and reliable performance. Future improvements aim to make the glove lighter, easier to put on, and more straightforward to reproduce, ensuring accessibility for research, VR applications, and wider adoption.