Haptic Information Feedback Given to Handles in Guide Dog Training

TL;DR

This paper introduces a real-time visualization method for quantifying handle force in guide dog training using image processing, aiming to improve communication of tactile information between trainers and handlers.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to visualize and quantify haptic feedback in guide dog training, enhancing understanding and training effectiveness.

Findings

Effective real-time force visualization achieved

Quantitative handle movement data obtained

Potential to improve training communication

Abstract

In guide dog training, trainers use haptic information transmitted through the handle of the harness worn by the guide dog to understand the dog's state. They then apply appropriate force to the handle to train the dog to make correct judgments. This tactile experience can only be felt between the dog and the trainer, making it challenging to communicate the amount of force applied to others quantitatively. To solve this problem, this study proposes a method for real-time visualization of the force exerted on the handle and quantification of the handle movement through image processing, which can be applied to actual guide dog training.