Simplified haptic walking system based on bilateral control

Recently, remote communication technologies such as telephone, radio and television are extensively developed. Haptic information is studied as the third type of multimedia information. Real-world haptics is getting attention as not only the principle for feedback of real-world haptic information in teleoperation but also the key technology for future human support. Most of the object of the study about haptics is stationary. Therefore moving ranges of such haptic systems are limited. This paper proposes a novel haptic device, which realizes force feedback of walking motion from remote environment and manipulates remote system. Thus, its moving range is unrestricted. In order to drive this haptic system, the paper also proposes asynchronous multilateral control. Using this control, an operator operates the remote system without leaving the place. The proposed haptic system is one of the effective interfaces for virtual reality and teleoperation.