| 摘要 |
Haptic feedback actuators making use of shape-memory alloys which can be heated so as to change the shape of the shape-memory alloy. In some cases, the shape-memory alloy forms a support (3a) for a rotatable mounting (3) for a rotatable member (2) and comprises a heater (3a) arranged to use power received from a support power transfer circuit to heat the shape-memory alloy (3a), the support (3a) having two shapes dependent upon the shape-memory alloy: a first shape and a second shape which is significantly longer than the first shape along a long axis, heating of the shape- memory alloy (3a) causing the support (3a) to change between the shapes. In other cases, the actuator comprises a tube (52) comprising a shape-memory alloy; the tube being open or more closed dependent upon the shape-memory alloy. Furthermore, a method of simulating an object in a virtual reality system, the method comprising: generating in the virtual reality system a virtual environment and imparting that virtual environment to a user; providing a physical object (111) to the user, the physical object (111) having an identification tag (112); sensing, using the virtual reality system, the identification tag (112); and simulating a virtual object (113) in the virtual environment dependent upon the identification tag. |
