“Tactile Technology” Inherits the Skills of an Expert

“Tactile Technology” Inherits the Skills of an Expert
Joint Research on Systems for Determining Non-Destructive Conditions of Packaging Products Using Real Haptics® Technology

Information Systems Engineering Co., Ltd. (ISE), the Keio Haptics Research Center (Keio HRC), and Motion Lib Co., Ltd. (Motion Lib) have been conducting joint research for the social implementation of “Real Haptics® Technology,” a haptics transmission technology developed by Keio University since 2018. As a result of this research, we will introduce an example of developing a nondestructive state determination system using the inspection of packaging products as a use case.
* This study is based on patent 6807589 and patent 7148938.

Touch technology is a technology that can be used to convert human techniques into information that eliminates illusions and bias.
This technology and information will support the workplaces that have been forced to rely on the skills of experienced workers.

Value proposition by Tactile Technology

Provides visualization and stabilization of work at work sites that
rely on human senses and carelessness

In quality inspection of packaging products, there are some sites where manual work remains

The packaged products which are completed until packaging are checked for defective products by appearance inspection, etc.

I can’t check the inside condition by appearance inspection.

There are instruments that can inspect the internal state by image recognition, X-ray, ultrasonic wave, etc.

We want to inspect the inside, but We can’t install the equipment.

Therefore, not only in manufacturing plants, but also in distribution sites (distribution centers and warehouses), some check the condition by touching it with their hands.

Tests by hands …

Inspection quality varies depending on the individual
Cognitive errors are likely to occur due to illusions and biases
Unable to prevent intentional violations

We want to systematize, but…

The information of the feel is not known only by touching
A person feels it by squeezing or rubbing it lightly
It is necessary to adjust to obtain information on the feel so as not to destroy the contents and the packaging itself

We must rely on human hands!

A system for determining the non-destructive state of packaged products

We took on the challenge of visualizing the information that humans obtain through their senses (textures) with real haptics technology (haptics transmission technology) to apply it to solving problems on the frontlines.

We succeeded in visualizing the feel of the packaging product as data. This technology can contribute to eliminating the dependency on the operator at the inspection site, where there are many fluid workers such as part-time workers and part-time employees, and to uniformizing quality.

Presentation at the 66th Joint Automatic Control Conference, organized by the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers
Sytem Model and Image (portable type)

包装製品の非破壊状態判定システムのシステムモデル（CAD） — CAD model
(desktop type)

Technical commentary

What is Real-Haptics®?

This technology transmits the haptic sensations of force in the control of a machine consisting of an operator (master) and a working device (slave). It was developed by Keio University and implemented by Motion Lib Co., Ltd., a university-originated venture.

We named this technology “Tactile Technology” because it enables a human to hold something without crushing it by unconsciously (reflectively) adjusting it the moment he grasps something soft, and if we obtain the amount of force-to-touch stimulation, which is the physical quantity corresponding to the touch of the object to be contacted, by real haptics® technology that can be implemented in a robot even without using the head through experience.

RealHaptics, AbcCore, are registered trademarks of Motion Lib Co., Ltd.

What is Force/Tactile Sensation ?

Force/Tactile sensation(f/t sensation) is the sensation received from a contacted object as it is worked on the contacted object. The act of a worker rubbing a product on site is the act of generating force/tactile sensation.

Like vision and hearing, force/tactile sensation quantifies sensation by measuring the amount of stimulation (intensity).

	Vision	Hearing	f/t sensation
Sense	Dazzling, dark	Noisy, quiet	Jiggly, Hard as a rock
stimulation intensity	lm （Light Intensity）	dB （Sound Intensity）	hu (f/t stimulation Intensity)^※