Transmitting the sense of touch over the internet: new HCTI standard

25.06.2024

The Technical University of Munich (TUM), in collaboration with an international consortium, has released the "Haptic Codecs for the Tactile Internet" (HCTI) standard after eight years of work. This standard enables the transmission of the sense of touch over the Internet, similar to JPEG for images or MP3 for audio.

HCTI could revolutionize human-machine interaction and set new benchmarks in haptic communication.

Image: Researcher testing the haptic feedback on a robotic arm. Computer and another student in the background

Researchers led by TUM Professor Eckehard Steinbach are testing the tactile Internet.

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Comparison to conventional file transfer

When audio or video files are sent over the Internet, a data packet is created every 20 milliseconds, filtering out information irrelevant to human sight and hearing to reduce data size. These packets are sent in one direction to the recipient. However, in the transmission of haptic information, both the sender and receiver play equal roles.

For example, if a robotic arm is to be moved remotely, the user's movements control it. When the robotic hand grasps a tennis ball, the user feels it remotely. Information must flow in both directions, creating a global feedback loop where commands to the robot and the haptic feedback influence each other. Ideally, the transmission of haptic information should occur within one millisecond.

Functionality and applications of HCTI

Data Transmission:

HCTI allows the exchange of up to 4,000 data packets per second to ensure realistic teleoperation, providing stable and lifelike transmission even with packet losses.
In the future, the rate will be reduced to 100 data packets per second. "That's close to the human perception threshold," says Steinbach. Lower rates reduce network load and save resources without compromising haptic feedback quality.

Applications in Medicine:

Telemedicine: Medical professionals can operate remotely, receiving the same haptic feedback as on-site, which could be life-saving in remote or crisis areas.
Use in Ambulances: Haptic information transmission allows paramedics to perform complex examinations, such as ultrasound, while receiving remote feedback.

Besides these medical applications, the standard also has potential for areas like teledriving, gaming, and online shopping.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Technical University of Munich (TUM)

More about TUM at: www.tum.de/en