The Use of LEDBased Digital Optical Ministicks as MultiFunctional Controls for Unified HumanMachine Interfaces

Abstract

The active development of robotics requires increasingly complex remote control devices. The remote control devices are increasingly large, complex, and expensive. They decrease economic efficiency of robotics and increase their price. The scientific task is the research into possibility of applying optical ministicks on the basis of light emitting diodes as the new type basic multifunctional controls of unified human­machine interfaces allowing us to control commonly known robotic equipment types using identical devices. During the research original ergonomic methods of purposeful combination of two ministicks on two actuating levers were used so that to provide convenience of tactile control of various robots without visual contact with controls. As a result of the research, new controls were created and patented. They became known as “polyjoysticks” (patent of Russian Federation No. 2497177) and allow controlling engineering facilities having up to 20 degrees of freedom which exceeds the similar parameters of known controls by factor of 3 to 5. Due to combined use of optical ministicks, two polyjoysticks and a video mask, a new generalpurpose generation humanmachine interface was created. It allows controlling various robots and vehicles, from tractor to aircraft. The discussion of the obtained results was carried out by comparing them with parameters of control panels of different robotics systems. The analysis of the comparison results has shown that the controls based on polyjoysticks and digital optical ministicks on the basis of light emitting diodes have the best indices in terms of implemented among known control devices, in terms of ratio of functionality to weight and volume of the devices. New interfaces have already been applied for developing multiagent robotic system control system for fire forest extinguishing.