Prototype of Force Feedback Tool for Mixed Reality Applications

This prototype demonstrates the viability of manipulating both physical and virtual objects with the same tool in order to maintain object permanence across both modes of interaction. Using oppositional force feedback, provided by a servo, and an augmented visual interface, provided by the user’s smartphone, this tool simulates the look and feel of a physical object within an augmented environment. Additionally, the tool is also able to manipulate physical objects that are not part of the augmented reality, such as a physical nut. By integrating both modes of interaction into the same tool, users can fluidly move between these different modes of interaction, manipulating both physical and virtual objects as the need arises. By overlaying this kind of visual and haptic augmentation onto a common tool such as a pair of pliers, we hope to further explore scenarios for collaborative telepresence in future work.