Real-time Visual and Haptic Feedback of Grasping Movements in Virtual Reality

The project we propose is multidisciplinary, combining research into 3D graphics, physics, AI, and virtual reality techniques from computer science with new advances in brain mechanisms underlying perception and action, and multisensory integration from cognitive neuroscience.

To achieve the aims of this project, we will explore how the brain processes sensory signals for controlling movements online and generate a perception of the environment, while multisensory information will be experimentally manipulated in a virtual reality setup.

We aim to simulate the forces produced during hand-object interaction in order to render highly realistic feedback of grasping movements. The successful applicant will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Department of Computer Science.

This project is multidisciplinary: grasping and hand movements are actively being studied across robotics, AI, human computer interaction, cognitive neuroscience and physiotherapy.Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honors degree in an Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Mathematics, Physics or a similar discipline.

A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage. We encourage applicants with a strong background in programming Jave/C/C++/C# (preferably using UE4 or Unity) to apply. In addition, they should be highly motivated, able to work in a team, collaborate with others, and have good communication skills.

References

• Dangxiao WANG, Yuan GUO, Shiyi LIU, Yuru ZHANG, Weiliang XU, Jing XIAO, "Haptic Display for Virtual Reality: Progress and Challenges", Virtual Reality & Intelligent Hardware, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2019.
• Y. Ban and Y. Ujitoko, "Enhancing the Pseudo-Haptic effect on the touch panel using the virtual string," 2018 IEEE Haptics Symposium (HAPTICS), San Francisco, CA, 2018.
• Kim M, Jeon C, Kim J. "A Study on Immersion and Presence of a Portable Hand Haptic System for Immersive Virtual Reality", Sensors, Basel, 2017.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Nadine Aburumman - Nadine is a lecturer in the Computer Science Department and is leading the Graphics and Extended Reality Team (GERT) and a member of the Interactive Multimedia System (IMS) research group. Nadine co-coordinates the AI Centre Thought Leadership series (TLS) for the Centre for AI: Social and Digital Innovation. Before joining Brunel, Nadine was a research associate at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN) at University College London (UCL). Prior to that, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Computer Science Research Institute of Toulouse (IRIT) funded by Centre International de Mathématiques et Informatique de Toulouse (CIMI) after a successful grant acquisition for 2 years (€ 80K). Before that, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, in the Institute for Multiscale Simulation (MSS). She completed her PhD studies in the ALCOR Lab at Sapienza University of Rome after being awarded a PhD Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.

Related Research Group(s)

Interactive Multimedia Systems - Building sensor and media-rich, cross-layer, inclusive e-systems, with an interest in human-machine interaction, sensorial-based interfaces, data visualisation and multimedia.