A joint project between engineers from the Federal Polytechnics of Lausanne and Zurich produces a super-light haptic glove capable of blocking finger movement.
Researchers of the ETH Zurich and the EPFL they are working on a solution capable of simulating the grip of objects in virtual reality by blocking the movement of the fingers, as well as offering haptic response at the tip of the same. The design relies on a lightweight form factor that currently achieves a weight of only 8 grams, although at the moment it does not include battery, since it works with a power cable. Using electrical impulses through an electrostatic brake that hinders friction between filaments of the sheet, DextrES is able to generate the equivalent of 2 kg of resistance per finger.
In the video we can see that they are currently using the OptiTrack system of external tracking for the positioning of the hands. According to the researchers, the next step will be to scale the device and apply it to other parts of the body using conductive tissue. “Players are the biggest market right now, but there are many other potential uses,” says the head of ETH Zurich’s Advanced Interactive Technologies Lab regarding the potential use cases of his technology.
