Magnitude Finger Forces Analysis During Simulating Pseudo-Haptic Spring

Abstract

AbstractThis paper focuses on finger force magnitude analysis during stiffness discrimination task. In the frame of their Study and research work MS students from the Université Grenoble Alpes specially designed an experimental bench allowing to simulate a pseudo-haptic spring. Then, a series of stiffness discrimination tests between reals springs and a pseudo-haptic spring were performed. Finger pressing forces and students’ (subjects’) perception of spring stiffness were recorded and analyzed. The analysis of psychometric curves indicates that subjects underestimate the simulated stiffness of the pseudo-haptic spring. The results also indicate that the peak of finger force applied on pseudo-haptic spring increases as the simulated stiffness increases. Moreover, it was found that the relationships between the logarithm of stiffness and the finger force were linear for the real springs and the pseudo-haptic spring. Pseudo-haptics effect being provided by specially designed isometric force feedback device, the results of this study may be useful for computer-based rehabilitation tasks designed for motor disorder patients with muscle deficiency associated with limited joint movement range or for injured athletes in the process of rehabilitation.