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Vibrotactile phantom sensation is an intuitive methodology for perceiving the localization of a moving object. However, the presentation area is limited to the inter-stimulus. To extend the range of presentation beyond the inter-stimulus region, we attempted to establish a novel mathematical model for representing a wider range of phantom sensation than conventional models. The experiments 1-1 and 1-2 compared three methods (linear, exponential-like, and conventional inter-stimulus models). The results indicated that the proposed linear and exponential-like models effectively generated both the sense of outer and inner movement with and without training, and that the exponential-like model is best suited to represent accurate phantom sensations that cover the extended outer region. In experiment 2, we examined the effect of γ, a parameter related to the magnitude of exponential-like model damping, on presentation accuracy. The results showed that the high-dumping model ( γ = 2) showed high accuracy and suggested a trade-off between presentation accuracy and range. The findings of this study are expected to provide guidelines for the effective presentation of a wide range of phantom sensations occurring outside the inter-stimulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, hand waving in a ‘command space’ is proposed as a new framework for operating home appliances. A command space is associated with the operation of a home appliance; an operation is retrieved by waving a hand in the command space. A home appliance operation system with the function of multiplexing command space modules and integrating multiple commands is constructed. With the proposed framework and system, home appliance operation is possible only by hand waving, an intuitive gesture for a human. Experiments were conducted that verified that complex operations, such as scheduling the recording of a TV program, can be performed with the system. The usability of the constructed system is evaluated using Brooke's System Usability Scale (SUS). The average SUS score was 66.8, which indicates that the subjects had relatively positive impression on the system in spite of long operation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the energy conversion in industrial devices and equipment is completed by the motor. The acquirement of motor parameters becomes very important for designing the motor drives. The aim of this paper is to design and implement a motor measurement system. Through the processing of an Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) microcontroller, the various parameters of motors such as input voltage, input current, input power, motor speed, and motor torque can be obtained. Consequently, the torque constant, load torque, viscous friction, and the inertia of the motor are calculated and achieved. The motor parameters can be commanded and displayed in the designed human interface of a PC via USB communication. The hardware system designed in this system includes an ARM microcontroller, an inverter, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a torque sensor, and power supply. The software programming is developed under the Visual Studio 2012 environment development platform using the C language. Finally, the prototype of the motor measurement system is completed and verified. The experimental results for the motor parameters and torque/speed characteristic are demonstrated and show the feasibility of the complete designed system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined whether manipulability during smartphone thumb-based touch operations could be predicted by the following robotic manipulability indices: the volume and direction of the ‘manipulability ellipsoid’ (MEd), both of which evaluate the influence of kinematics on manipulability. Limits of the thumb's range of motion were considered in the MEd to improve predictability. Thumb postures at 25 key target locations were measured in 16 subjects. Though there was no correlation between subjective evaluation and the volume of the MEd, high correlation was obtained when motion range limits were taken into account. These limits changed the size of the MEd and improved the accuracy of the manipulability evaluation. Movement directions associated with higher performance could also be predicted. In conclusion, robotic manipulability indices with motion range limits were considered to be useful measures for quantitatively evaluating human hand operations. Practitioner Summary: To examine the usefulness of robotic manipulability indices for quantitatively evaluating human hand operations, they were used to assess smartphone touch operations. The effectiveness of the robotic measure was improved by incorporating human movement characteristics into the index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General interest for robotic technology has been increased by the public and the media after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (hereafter referred to as 1F) disaster. Especially, robots which can work under the very severe condition where personnel cannot access have demands for development. As to respond to such high demands, NEDO established ‘Disaster response unmanned systems development project’ in 2012.[1] This project is specialized in the development of various remote-controlled equipment, such as remote-controlled platform truck and remote control human interface under ‘Mobile Robot Development’. Remote-controlled platform truck is designed to safely and surely deliver robots and supplies, instead of using stairs and elevator, etc. in and out of building where it is too critical for personnel to work under. Remote control human interface for robots is designed to standardize the command and operation screen for operator, based on opinions from project members, and manned facility construction.[2] In this article, mechanical structure and development tasks for remote-controlled platform truck, and commonalization approach for operation and camera display of various remote-controlled equipment and robot for remote control human interface are stated.Background: due to hydrogen explosion triggered by The Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011, a reactor building at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was severely damaged. It is required to reduce high radiation dose in the atmosphere of the reactor building to perform restoration. To pursue decontamination of the reactor building, equipment to lift and carry decontamination devices to upper floor are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In enterprise information systems (EISs) it is necessary to model, integrate and compute very diverse data. In advanced EISs the stored data often are based both on structured (e.g. relational) and semi-structured (e.g. XML) data models. In addition, the ad hoc information needs of end-users may require the manipulation of data-oriented (structural), behavioural and deductive aspects of data. Contemporary languages capable of treating this kind of diversity suit only persons with good programming skills. In this paper we present a concept-oriented query language approach to manipulate this diversity so that the programming skill requirements are considerably reduced. In our query language, the features which need technical knowledge are hidden in application-specific concepts and structures. Therefore, users need not be aware of the underlying technology. Application-specific concepts and structures are represented by the modelling primitives of the extended RDOOM (relational deductive object-oriented modelling) which contains primitives for all crucial real world relationships (is-a relationship, part-of relationship, association), XML documents and views. Our query language also supports intensional and extensional–intensional queries, in addition to conventional extensional queries. In its query formulation, the end-user combines available application-specific concepts and structures through shared variables. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A remote controlled robot for collecting information in disasters, e.g. earthquakes, is one of most effective applications of robots, because it is very dangerous for human beings to locate survivors in collapsed buildings and, in addition, small robots can move into narrow spaces to find survivors. However, previous rescue systems that use robots have a significant problem — a shortage of operators. In catastrophic disasters, in order to save victims, we must explore wide areas within a limited time. Thus, many rescue robots should be employed simultaneously. However, human interfaces of previous rescue robots were complicated, so that well-trained professional operators were needed to operate the robots and, thus, to use many rescue robots, many professional operators were required. However, in such catastrophic disasters it is difficult to get many professional operators together within a short time. In this paper we address the problem and propose a concept of rescue team organization in which professional rescue staff and volunteer staff work together for handling a catastrophic disaster. We point out the necessity for rescue robots which can be operated easily by non-professional volunteer staff. To realize a rescue robot which can be operated easily, we propose a rescue robot system which has a human interface seen in typical, everyday vehicles and a snake-like robot which has mechanical intelligence. We have demonstrated the validity and the effectiveness of the proposed concept by developing a prototype system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of mobile telephony has fueled the expansion of the mobile Internet as a foundation for mobile commerce. Proponents claim that mobile commerce will surpass electronic commerce in growth and scope, but there is as yet no commonly accepted framework for the study of interface design for mobile commerce. Using Rayport and Jaworski's 7C's--the seven design elements of a customer interface (context, content, community, customization, communication, connection, and commerce)--as a reference framework, interfaces for mobile commerce and electronic commerce are compared. Two new elements (2M's) are identified: mobile setting and mobile device constraints. These 2M's substantially affect the design of each of the 7C's. Therefore, the 2M's and 7C's are proposed as a new framework for mobile commerce interfaces. Based on this, previous research is analyzed and suggestions for future research are generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes a speech-driven embodied interaction robot system based on the entrainment mechanism for supporting human interaction. Overview of the concept of the embodied interaction robot system; Speech-driven interaction model; Areas of application.