CapstanCrunch - A Haptic VR Controller with User-supplied Force Feedback

Explore a groundbreaking haptic VR controller in this conference talk from the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology. Dive into the innovative CapstanCrunch, a palm-grounded device that provides force feedback for touching and grasping both rigid and compliant objects in virtual reality. Learn how this controller achieves human-scale forces without relying on large, power-hungry actuators, instead utilizing a friction-based capstan-plus-cord variable-resistance brake mechanism. Discover the design principles, implementation details, and advantages of CapstanCrunch, including its low cost, energy efficiency, robustness, and safety features. Examine its performance through various VR scenarios and user studies, comparing it to active haptic controllers. Gain insights into the controller's components, from sailing rope basics to internal actuators, and understand its potential for simulating different levels of object rigidity and compliance. Conclude with a look at future plans for this technology and participate in a Q&A session to deepen your understanding of this cutting-edge VR haptic solution.