2023/01/25
NTT DOCOMO, INC.
Keio University
NTT DOCOMO, INC. (hereinafter "DOCOMO") and the Keio University Haptics Research Center (hereinafter "Keio") have conducted a proof-of-concept experiment using 5G's Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) to achieve wireless remote control of a robot utilizing "Real Haptics®," a robotics technology developed by Keio. The experiment successfully replicated the sensation of human touch with up to 96% accuracy. This experiment, which connects URLLC with an application, is the first of its kind in Japan.
"Real Haptics" is a proprietary technology developed by Keio University that can replicate the sensation of touch felt by human fingertips and palms on a robot. To achieve "Real Haptics," which transmits the delicate sensations felt by humans to a remote location, it is necessary to maintain a low-latency communication state with no fluctuations. If the latency or its variation is large, the operator and the robot become out of sync, causing the robot to become uncontrollable. This has made it difficult to realize remote-controlled robots using "Real Haptics" in a mobile data communication environment. This time, by utilizing URLLC—an ultra-reliable and low-latency wireless technology that is one of the requirements for achieving 5G evolution—and minimizing latency fluctuations, we have successfully achieved a 96% reproduction rate in the wireless remote control of a robot using "Real Haptics." This level is extremely close to the sensation of grasping a real object directly.
The success of this proof-of-concept experiment makes it possible to replicate the sensation of human touch on a robot anytime, anywhere over a mobile network. This is expected to lead to the expansion of new use cases, such as outdoor applications and use in locations that are difficult to access, as well as the growth of the robotics market.
For the full press release, please see below.