weekly blog (week one)

Hello, Everyone. How are you guys doing?

This past week, I read some articles or news related to CS (Computer Science). I finally picked a topic that caught my attention; engineers create 3D-printed objects that sense how users interact. My reason for why and seeing how choosing this article is because it looks cool and relatable for Gamers to use any controller made of small rubber pieces. 

 

Short Summary: The researchers found a way to combine sensing capabilities into 3D printable structures made of constant cells, enabling designers to prototype interactive input devices quickly. Even, Formed a new method to 3D print mechanisms that detect how force applies to an object. Or The structures are made from a single piece of material so that they can be rapidly prototypes. Also, A designer could use this method to 3D print "interactive input devices," as a joystick or a controller.

For accomplishing the goal, the researchers blended electrodes into structures made from metamaterials (The materials split into a grid of duplicating cells). Also, They designed editing software that benefits users develop these interactive devices.

First, The researchers need embedded electrodes because a grid of cells creates the metamaterial. That benefits from the user implement strength to a metamaterial object; cells can spread or reduce with few adjustable interiors. They also take advantage by creating "conductive shear cells," adjustable cells with two opposing walls made from the conductive wire and two walls made from the non-conductive thread. Even, The conductive walls operate as terminals.

When a user implements strength to the metamaterial mechanism, it running a joystick grip or pressing the buttons on a controller. The conductive shear cells expand or decrease. Even, The distance and overlaying area between the opposing terminals changes. While using capacitive sensing, those adjustments can be measured and used to calculate the magnitude and direction of the applied forces and rotation and acceleration.

For demonstration, the researchers built a metamaterial joystick with four conductive shear cells embedded around the base of the handle in each direction. Also, moving around the joystick handle, the distance and area between the opposing conductive walls change to sense each applied force's direction and magnitude. By learning how joystick users use strength, a designer could test different handles from shapes and sizes for people with faulty grip strength in specific ways.

Second, The researchers created a sensitivity controller designed to adapt to a user's hand. When the user holds one of the flexible buttons, conductive shear cells within the structure can diminish and send sense input to a digital synthesizer. Also, This method could allow a designer to instantly create and tweak differently adjustable input devices for a computer.

Lastly, MetaSense, the 3D editor the researchers improved, enables this fast prototyping for a software solution. The users can manually combine into a metamaterial device or let the software automatically place the conductive shear cells in optimal locations. The researchers attempted to make MetaSense straightforward, but there are tests for printing such intricate structures.