A vibration motor and joystick are used to create a haptic feedback device using the Arduino platform. As a response to specific changes in joystick position, we prescribe vibration motor actions corresponding to the movement of the joystick. This allows for creation of vibrational feedback similar to that used in video games and virtual reality systems. The goal of this tutorial is to introduce users to haptic technology that can immerse users into the digital world using physical feedback mechanisms, such as vibration. Different tunings of the vibration motor can provide users with instructions based on their input, which makes this type of application useful for enhancing digital media, as referenced above, or situations such as visually impaired navigation, feedback in auditory-restricted environments, and delivering quiet notifications to users. Haptics can be incredibly useful in emulating the real world and immersing users into scenarios that may otherwise be dangerous or difficult to experience. Vibrational haptic feedback is just one of a series of haptic mechanisms, and this tutorial was just a simple entry into a wide ranging and evolving field of human computer interaction.

Raspberry Pi Vibration Analysis Experiment With a Free-Free Bar

Using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, the resonant frequencies of a beam will be measured using a thin film piezoelectric transducer and compared to the theoretical calculations. A Raspberry Pi will be used along with a high-frequency data acquisition system (Behringer UCA202, sample rate: 44.1kHz) and the Python programming language for analysis. The fast fourier transform will allow us to translate the subtle beam deflections into meaningful frequency content. This tutorial is meant to introduce Python and Raspberry Pi as formidable tools for vibration analysis by using measurements as validation against theory.