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ABOUT THE HAPTIX LABORATORY        
  The Haptix Laboratory is home to a set of research projects aimed at developing and applying human/machine interface devices to exploit the human sense of touch (haptics). We apply design and analysis tools from multibody dynamics, nonlinear controls, robotics, and hybrid dynamical systems theory. In particular, we study the connection established between a human and machine through a manual control interface. The connection is invariably more than physical —it involves information flow, learned behavior, and adaptive control processes. Through a good connection, the human can use the machine as an extension of his or her own body, to express ideas and carry out intentions. A well designed prosthetic device, a musical instrument, a tennis racquet, and a modern automobile are all examples of machines whose manual interfaces have been carefully tuned to achieve “good connection”.

A motorized and computer controlled manual interface (a haptic interface) can be used to make connections even better. It can be used to realize new means of training, extending, and augmenting human expression and manual skill. Our projects have application in stroke and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, machine automation, driver/vehicle interface, and electronic musical instrument interface. For more information on our projects, please select projects from the menu up top.

Our laboratory is based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Our group is also part of the Controls group at Michigan.

     
  NEWS   HAPTIX IN EDUCATION  
 
Dec 20, 2004
Congratulations to Volkan for finishing his defense.

January 7, 2005
Website Brought Online

May 19, 2005
Please see Kari Danek's new Page