SIGGRAPH 2017 Emerging Technology Best in Show Award: Sasaki, Saraiji, Fernando, Minamizawa and Inami

Awardee(s):

• Tomoya Sasaki
• MHD Yamen Saraiji
• Charith Lasantha Fernando
• Kouta Minamizawa
• Masahiko Inami

Award:

Emerging Technology Best in Show Award

Experience Description:

This research proposes a novel interaction to alternate body scheme using artificial limbs substitution metamorphosis. In this work, two additional robotic arms are added to user’s body, and are substituted with the legs. Using this arms/legs substitution, arms count is expanded to four arms in total with voluntary control using legs motion mapping. Limbs control is achieved by tracking the global motion of legs and feet relative to torso, as well as local motion of toes. These data are mapped to the artificial limbs’ arms/hands motion and fingers gripping. Lastly, force feedback is added to the feet and mapped to manipulator’s touch sensors. Using this system, it is possible to perform difficult tasks normal body can not achieve alone, such as holding many objects simultaneously.