A haptic interface for human-in-the-loop manipulation at the nanoscale

This paper outlines major challenges that we are facing in interfacing a human user with objects in the nanoworld via a haptic interface. After a review of prior efforts at haptically-enabled nanomanipulation systems, we present the current state of our nanomanipulator system. We then discuss current research issues including the direct-Z mode, force modeling, data transfer rates and the stability of the haptic interface. Results of nanomanipulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes are presented. It is our hope that the insight gained by the human user of a haptic interface to SPM leads to scanning algorithms that can automatically adjust the SPM parameters based on the properties of the nanosample and the substrate under investigation.