Tactile Internet of Tactile Internet

The term "tactile Internet" was offered in Dresden University of Technology. The tactile Internet is the following step of development of Internet of Things assuming transfer not only sound and video of data, but also an equivalent of human touches. Respectively implementation of this idea requires creation of the new networks providing connection of much bigger number of devices and the minimum delays. Such network is 5G network. It is planned that 5G networks will be put into operation in 2019-2025.

Specifications

Implementation of the tactile Internet includes applications from different areas:

• robotics,
• electronics,
• virtual reality,
• augmented reality,
• artificial intelligence, etc.

Characteristics of network:

• Zero delays are delays less than 1 ms;

• Reliability – for accomplishment of critical tasks (for example, remote transaction) losses in networks, a hardware failure, etc. are inadmissible;

• High data transfer rate – more than 10 Gbps;

• The high density of network – connection support more than 100 devices on 1 sq.m.

For reproduction of feelings existence of any devices which are in contact with the receiver, for example, clothes (t-shirts, a jumper, trousers), accessories (gloves), footwear, headdresses, exoskeletons or special devices, the represented tactile displays with tiny drives which set mobile elements in motion (needles, pins) is supposed.

Scopes

In electronic trading – an opportunity to touch and to perhaps try on clothes or any other goods before purchase. An opportunity to touch ancient exhibits in the museums and at exhibitions, being in special containers for protection against an external microclimate.

Transfer of touches (for example, blows, shots, collisions, etc.) in video games or watching movies.

In the field of health care – it is an opportunity far off to perform operations, inspection of patients, an opportunity will touch the patients who are in intensive care or babies in an incubator.

In the industry – remote hardware maintenance, for example, repair of the non-standard device or machine.

Remote education (for example, training in playing musical instruments or painting).

2018: Implementation of sensors in soft robotic structures

For 2018 scientists work on creation of artificial touch by implementation of sensors in soft robotic structures and the most sensitive touch sensors. At this time sensors are already able to reproduce force and the nature of contact, distinguish different materials: metal, tree, textiles, etc.

2017: Creation of predictive engines for data transmission acceleration

By January, 2017 "tactile codecs", by analogy with sound and video codecs are already created. There is one problem: it is necessary to transfer not only action, but also counteraction of a subject to which action is directed, and very quickly, within thousand fractions of a second. And 5G network with its improbable, in comparison with 4G networks which still have a noticeable delay, high-speed performance is capable to provide such instant reaction, however, only in quite limited space limits. Even light, the fastest that is in the nature, is capable to overcome only 50 km for 1 ms.

How, for example, will the qualified surgeon do remote operation for the patient in Anadyr of St. Petersburg? Signal delay in this case can make several tens and even hundreds of milliseconds. Difficult transaction requires instant reaction of the surgeon to the slightest changes in the operated member of the body! And if the delay makes the notable value (for example, human hearing will recognize a delay more than 50 ms), effects can be irreversible. However, an exit and from this deadlock was found. The matter is that all our actions, movements very both are very similar, and are inclined to repeated repetition that is explained by restrictions of anatomy of a body of the person. Therefore, it is possible to create hardware-software "predictive engines" (Predictive engine) which by initial provision of a hand and hardly begun movement calculate what will be the further movement, and approximately in what point it will come to the end. Besides, it is possible to transfer not all spatial coordinates of a hand or the tool but only only their changes. All this considerably increases speed of transfer of action and reaction.

Here we see why densely distributed network fabric (fabric) in a 5G which provides not only network, but also computing resources on all space of network is necessary. If predictive engine on the party of execution is not in Anadyr, and we will tell, only in Novosibirsk, then advantage of such engine in this application there will be^[1].

2012: Start of works on creation of transmission systems of feelings

Works on creation of the robotic systems capable far off began to transfer feelings in 2012^[2].

Notes