A Novel Haptic Device for Plucked Musical Instrument AR Simulation

Design, development, and testing of a wearable haptic feedback parallel 5-bar mechanism meant for plucked musical instrument emulation as part of an AR system. Usable most easily to emulate playing a harp, other plucked instrument players could also use this technology. System detects the position of a finger relative to a virtual string's projected position, moves a string piece against the fingertip to provide haptic feedback, then detects a plucking motion made by the finger, sounds a musical note dependent on which virtual string's projection the finger is proximate to, then returns to a rest position. A commercial version would add 3DoF motion on multiple fingers, AR goggles and a possible fretting emulation glove. This serves as proof of concept for the most responsive plucked musical string emulation available from a haptic feedback device, allowing for ease of musical practice, decreased instrument weight, size constraints, and expense.