Design of a bi-manual haptic interface for skill acquisition in surface mount device soldering

Abstract

Purpose Offering unskilled people training in engineering and vocational skills helps to decrease unemployment rate. The purpose of this paper is to augment actual hands-on conventional vocational training methods with virtual haptic simulations as part of computer-based vocational education and training. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the design of a bi-manual virtual multi-modal training interface for learning basic skills in surface mount device hand soldering. This research aims to analyze human hand dexterity of novices and experts at micro level skill knowledge capture by simulating and tracking the users’ actions in the manual soldering process through a multi-modal user interface. Findings Haptic feedback can enhance the experience of a virtual training environment for the end user and can provide a supplementary modality for imparting tangible principles to increase effectiveness. This will improve the teaching and learning of engineering and vocational skills with touch-based haptics technology, targeted toward teachers and students of various disciplines in engineering. Compared with the traditional training methods for learning soldering skills, the proposed method shows more efficiency in faster skill acquisition and skill learning. Originality/value In this study, the authors proposed a novel bi-manual virtual training simulator model for teaching soldering skills for surface mount technology and inspection. This research aims to investigate the acquisition of soldering skills through virtual environment, with and without haptic feedback. This acts as a basic-level training simulator that provides introductory training in soldering skills and can help initially unskilled people find educational opportunities and job offers in the electronics industry.

Visuo-Haptic Mixed Reality Simulation Using Unbound Handheld Tools

“…Despite not using the full potential of the system, applications such as femoral needle insertion [4] and optometry training [6] can also be implemented. Another interesting application could be electronics maintenance with soldering simulation, as described in [34].…”

Haptic Training Simulation

“…Loch et al reviewed the research about haptic training on manual manufacturing procedures in Loch et al (2018). Some other HTS applications are found in soldering for non-robotized lowand medium-series (James et al, 2019) or operating overhead traveling cranes (Noda et al, 2019).…”