NANOMAN : Multisensory Interface Nano-Manipulator — Gesture - Image - Sound

I. Laboratories and Staff

II. Presentation of the NANOMAN Project

The multisensory nanomanipuation project uses various fields of knowledge (computer technology, modelling, automatics, nano-physics, electronics, mechanics) for a single objective : designing a real-time multisensory user interface for an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM).
The assembly of a TGR (Retroactive Gestural Transducer) with an AFM microscope is progressing along  two broad directions:

• Setting up hardware for a force-feedback Nano-manipulator
• Defining the multisensory reconstruction from the AFM signals

The combined skills of the ICA laboratory (Virtual Reality and multisensority) and of the LEPES laboratory (nano-physics) permit to take care of these two aspects. The AFM that was acquired for this project has been coupled with the TGR. Manipulations and force-transmission due to the point/surface interaction have been achieved. Servo-motor systems for the transmission of action and force-feedback have been set up.
Simultaneously and on the same basis, the most efficient sensory-motor rendering for visual and tactile interface is defined in order to implement nanometer-scale presence. Thus the goal of the Nanoman project is to build a Nano-manipulator like an autonomous workstation integrating nanometer-scale force captors and a user interface permitting real-time nano-scale work while using all the cognitive processes (meaning, knowledge, learning) inside the nano-world.

Practical courses on multisensory nanomanipulation have been given at the UJF university since 2004. In addition, collaboration with actors in various fields are on the way in order to satisfy a larger range of demands:

• biology : a user-friendly tool for manipulating living matter in its various scales
• educational sciences : beyond theorical descriptions and associated measures, nanomanipulation offers a more direct and sensorial approach to nano-sciences
• micro-robotics : the micro-system composed of the AFM microscope head and its control is in the heart of micro-roboticians' concern.

III. Publications

          Luciani, A. and al., PRESENCE: The sense of believability of inaccessible worlds, vol. 28 (2004) pp.509-517

          Marchi, F. and al., Feeling nanospace through a multisensorial nano-manipulator, Veeco European Conference - Seeing at Nanoscale II, Grenoble, France, 10 (2004) pp.1

          Marliere, S. and al., Multi-sensorial interaction with a nano-scale phenomenon: the force curve, EuroHaptics, Munich, Germany, 6 (2004) pp.246-252

          Luciani, A. and al., PRESENCE: The sense of believability of inaccessible worlds, CyberWorld, Singapore, 12 (2003) pp.114-119

          Luciani, A. and al., Approaching nano-spaces: 1-DOF nanomanipulator, Trends in Nanotechnology, Salamanca, Spain, 9 (2003) pp.145-146

          Marliere, S. and al., Real-time simulation of AFM tip-surface cohesive interactions, Trends in Nanotechnology, Salamanca, Spain, 9 (2003) pp.143-144

          Marliere, S. and al., Touching Nanospace: Atomic Force Microscope coupling with a force feedback manipulation system, STM'03, Eidhoven, Netherlands, 7 (2003)

          Florens, J. and al., Atomic Force Microscope Functionality Simulation: Physical and Energetic Analogies, Integrated Nanosystems, Palo Alto, California, 9 (2003)

          Marchi, F. and al., Educational Tool for Nanophysics Using Multisensory Rendering, WorldHaptics, Pisa, Italy, 3 (2005) pp.1-8

          Jez, O. and al., Dynamic Modelling of a Nanomanipulator Chain, IFAC, Prague, Czech Republic, 7 (2005) pp.1-6

          Marchi, F. and al., Interactive learning of nanophysics phenomena, mICTE, Caceres, Spain, 6 (2005) pp.510-515

          Marliere, S, Conception et réalisation d'un nouvel outil à réalité mixte et retour d'effort pour toucher et créer les nanomondes, PhdThesis, Grenoble, France, 1 (2006) pp.1-324

Contacts : Claude.Cadoz [at] imag.fr, Annie.Luciani [at] imag.fr, Jean-Loup Florens
Telephone : 04 76 57 46 69 - 46 48 - 46 61 - 46 70