BA/MA/PA - tbd - Gameification of Mechanical Impedance Measurements

Task description:

Please note, the following description is the maximum and directs towards a master-thesis. Portions of it can be done as a bachelor-thesis, or the more practical aspect can be shifted to the front and it can be run as a Project Work.

The user as a mechanical load is still one of the biggest challenges for haptic interface design. There are established methods to collect data, but frequently the critical mass of people does not exist to have reliable information on user impedance. A new idea would be to gameify this approach. Based on a simple game with very basic control (e.g. flappy-bird) a measurement test-stand is to be designed which allows fast games and quick interactions with users while measuring the mechanical properties of the hand with established methods. This Master-thesis will cover the topic in total. It will start with a fundamental analysis of mechanical impedance hand models, and an identification of relevant dynamic ranges to cover. Furthermore decisions will be made in which directions and in which complexity to measure.

The design of the setup will consider the theoretical aspects, and connect it to an arcade-type-game which is common to be used. The overall setting will enable an unsupervised data collection while people play the game(s).

The thesis will also demonstrate the usage of the acquired data, and create a first fit to the hand model(s) assumed as a basis for the overall system. The models will focus on LTI-systems based on concentrated elements, they should be physics inspired and informed and can show a relevant complexity.

Variations of the user’s input should be considered, such as gripping force, rest-force or general “state of tension”.

The thesis ends with a trial run with a large (>20) number of players and a demonstration of the acquisition of data and the interpretation.

As controls, joysticks and buttons are to be considered.

Consequently, the thesis will show the following steps:

Run a literature research and collect relevant methods on measuring mechanical hand impedances during interactions

Define hypothesis on suitable hand models for impedances based on LTIs for single DOF under analysis

Design a mechanical setting with high quality sensors to measure impedances on hands and fingers during a typical arcade-game-like interaction

Decide on a frame of an arcade-station, coordinate the build and put it into operation

Program the data collection and link it to a freeware or open-source game free of choice to run on the arcade station.

Demonstrate successfull impedance curve fitting based on the collected data considering questions of statistics and percentiles of user impedances. Consider to collect basic personalized information (age, gender, body-weight) to cluster the data

Do a first trial run with at least 20 people and demonstrate the functionality of everything

Contact persons: @Thorsten A. Kern @Ornella Tortorici

Details

Name:
Thesis type:	MA/BA/PA
Student ID:
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End/report due:
Spotlight presentation
Final presentation:
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Content

Time planning

Checklist

Introduction / tour in M4

Urheberrechtsvereinbarung signed

if applicable: signed confidential agreement

official registration

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Final thesis	Final presentation	Link to further files

Final thesis	Final presentation	Link to further files