Hello people,

I am new to H3DAPI, and I followed the steps given in the Part 3 (Programming) of the youtube tutorials (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8VYttCYJkg&feature=relmfu). But strangely, I get an error message saying "No haptics devices in the scene. Navigation with haptics device will not be used".

I don't understand why I get this error. I have SensAble Fanthon omni connected to my laptop, and it also is working fine. I have also configured the device in "H3DLoad settings" as shown in Tutorial Part 2.

I am pretty sure this must have a simple solution. Can any one of you please help me out of this?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Do you get any other error message? Such as about "internal error code -5" (or if it is -1). Either way, the most common mistake people have when they can not make a SensAble device work is that they do not have the required license file (only needed if you are not using the academic version of OpenHaptics).

Thank you for replying.

I do not get any other error. And I guess, as you said, it might be due to improper license file.

I am using SensAble device for academic purpose (UPMC, Paris, http://www.upmc.fr/). I registered an account at http://dsc.sensable.com/ and I have requested for license for OpenHaptics Academic Edition, but they said it will take at most 1 business day to send me license.

Is this the correct way to obtain free license? Or do I have to search in some other place? Can you please guide me through this?

Thank you so much.

As far as I know there is no other license file needed if you are using an academic version of OpenHaptics. I asked about it just to rule out potential license file issues.

Does Phantom test work? (sensable program, should be run after phantom configuration). If you in phantom test can reset the device (by putting handle in the ink well) and feel the forces when touching the box in the box test part of the application then you know that at the device is not broken. Phantom test does not require a license to run though so you can be rule out that issue based on phantom test, but like I said, if you are already using an academic version of openhaptics then that should not be your problem.

I briefly looked at the video tutorial.

Does it ever mention that you have to select which haptics device you want to use through H3DLoad settings?
If not then find that program in the start menu, select the "Any Phantom device" in the drop down list

In the Part 2 of the tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMsf-ZtHN_0&feature=relmfu), and yes, they asked to choose Any Phantom device" in the drop down list through H3DLoad settings and I followed it.

Phantom test works very well. I can reset the device, feel the forces on the walls of imaginary bounded box, etc.

Where do I get academic version of OpenHaptics? Is it something that comes along with SensAble device when purchased (in CD) or is it to be downloaded? The PDD that I have (H3DAPI 2.1.1 Windows Installer) was straight away downloaded from http://www.h3dapi.org/modules/PDdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=14 without registering anywhere or installing license. (I'm using windows 7, 64bit)

Thanks

H3DAPI 2.1.1 Windows Installer does not come with any OpenHaptics drivers or PDD. (There is one dll called OpenHapticsRenderer but that one uses OpenHaptics for some haptic rendering if you have OpenHaptics on your system, it does not contain any drivers). H3DAPI does not require any specific license to start, unless you plan to use a SensAble device with a non-academic version of OpenHaptics.

Sensables OpenHaptics can be found here:
http://dsc.sensable.com/

Where did you get the version you have from?

I just downloaded it without registering anywhere. I am getting a bit confused, but now I think the source of confusion is that I don't know the difference between H3DAPI and OpenHaptics.

This is what I did:

-- Since I am working as a lab intern, I borrowed the phantom omni device (and only device, not the CDs that come along with the device) from my guiding professor.
-- I plugged the device into my laptop, and drivers could not install. So I went to the above mentioned website (http://www.h3dapi.org/modules/PDdownloads/viewcat.php?cid=14) and downloaded H3DAPI 2.1.1 Windows Installer and the drivers were soon installed (I had to reboot it once).
-- Yesterday, I registered myself at http://dsc.sensable.com/ hoping to find the Academic Edition of OpenHaptics, and I was told that I will get my password in 1 day, but till now I have not received any further mail.

Am I following the right direction? How do I possibly make SensAble understand that I am indeed using Academic Edition?

Please guide me. Sorry if my mail is confusing or ambiguous. Thank you.

After which of the above steps did you have Phantom Test installed?
It is really not included in H3DAPI 2.1.1 so it must have been after the second step. Is that when you tested PhantomTest?

at dsc.sensable.com there are two links, one for academic users and one for other. If you followed the one for academic users and still did not get to download openhaptics and/or the device drivers for your phantom then you need to contact sensable since we really can not help you with that installation.

Phantom Test was included in H3DAPI 2.1.1 Windows Installer. PHANTOM configuration, test and hardware docs were installed by installing H3DAPI 2.1.1.

I clicked on to academic users link, and I registered device, but I guess I entered wrong few personal details, but does it matter anyhow? Should I have used my professor's name, phone number and email ID?.

I even sent a mail to the support centre (dscadmin@sensable.com) mentioned in SensAble website, but again, got no reply.