About this Research Topic
This Research Topic is part of a series: Volume II
Many professions require dexterous manipulation and initial and continuing hands-on training. For example, in the medical context, simulations conducted on animals, cadavers or phantoms have been a convenient way to learn by trial and error for decades. Yet, these training resources are expensive, not widely available, may raise ethical issues, and provide a limited set of study cases to practice on. These difficulties limit the opportunities of trainee populations for hands-on training in their curriculum. Therefore, cost-effective solutions are required to facilitate hands-on training on any study case as often as necessary.
For more than a decade, Virtual Reality (VR) simulators have been used to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. With such devices, which can be parameterized on-line, it becomes possible to provide an infinite set of study cases and adapt difficulty level to a specific learning curve. VR simulators have been progressively improved to provide trainees with a more realistic environment in 2D and more recently in 3D.
A fundamental building block of haptic training simulators is a haptic interface, typically consisting of a robotic arm or hand-held device with sensors and actuators that can simulate the sensation of touching and manipulating objects. The haptic interface is connected to a computer program that generates a virtual environment that simulates real-world tasks. Haptic feedback is an effective training tool for advanced tasks in some medical contexts. Airplane pilot simulators are an example of a widespread solution for hands-on training on difficult situations with the ability to objectively assess performance. They have become a necessary step before training on real planes.
This Research Topic aims to foster the design of (even more) efficient haptic simulators from the pedagogical and/or usage standpoints.
The simulators studied in this Topic will have a hands-on training purpose in any application field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Haptic interfaces, in particular the design of haptic interfaces and their use in haptic training simulators
•Design of the virtual modelling tools for robots and environments
• Tactile and/or kinaesthetic haptic rendering
• Computer graphics for virtual, augmented, or mixed reality
• Motion capture/analysis
• Cognitive performance
• Specific types of training, e.g., laparoscopic training
Many professions require dexterous manipulation and initial and continuing hands-on training. For example, in the medical context, simulations conducted on animals, cadavers or phantoms have been a convenient way to learn by trial and error for decades. Yet, these training resources are expensive, not widely available, may raise ethical issues, and provide a limited set of study cases to practice on. These difficulties limit the opportunities of trainee populations for hands-on training in their curriculum. Therefore, cost-effective solutions are required to facilitate hands-on training on any study case as often as necessary.
For more than a decade, Virtual Reality (VR) simulators have been used to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. With such devices, which can be parameterized on-line, it becomes possible to provide an infinite set of study cases and adapt difficulty level to a specific learning curve. VR simulators have been progressively improved to provide trainees with a more realistic environment in 2D and more recently in 3D.
A fundamental building block of haptic training simulators is a haptic interface, typically consisting of a robotic arm or hand-held device with sensors and actuators that can simulate the sensation of touching and manipulating objects. The haptic interface is connected to a computer program that generates a virtual environment that simulates real-world tasks. Haptic feedback is an effective training tool for advanced tasks in some medical contexts. Airplane pilot simulators are an example of a widespread solution for hands-on training on difficult situations with the ability to objectively assess performance. They have become a necessary step before training on real planes.
This Research Topic aims to foster the design of (even more) efficient haptic simulators from the pedagogical and/or usage standpoints.
The simulators studied in this Topic will have a hands-on training purpose in any application field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Haptic interfaces, in particular the design of haptic interfaces and their use in haptic training simulators
•Design of the virtual modelling tools for robots and environments
• Tactile and/or kinaesthetic haptic rendering
• Computer graphics for virtual, augmented, or mixed reality
• Motion capture/analysis
• Cognitive performance
• Specific types of training, e.g., laparoscopic training
Keywords: Haptic interfaces, Haptic rendering, Simulation, Hands-on Training, Virtual/Augmented, Mixed Reality
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
