A student at Miami University has recently garnered attention by securing an award for his innovative research in the field of haptic technology, with applications stretching from healthcare to astronaut training. Jack Nomina, a senior with an academic background in both Mechanical Engineering and Music Performance, was honored at the Ohio Space Grant Consortium's (OSGC) Annual Student Research Symposium this past April. Presenting a poster titled "The Design of Haptic Actuators Using Smart Materials for Virtual Reality Applications," according to Miami University News, Nomina received a perfect score from the symposium's evaluators.
Nomina’s feat is particularly notable considering he juggled a packed academic and extracurricular schedule. "I have always been interested in research, but I thought it was something I would never have the opportunity to get into. I honestly didn’t think I had time," Nomina said in a statement obtained by Miami University News. Contrary to his initial belief, Nomina found a way to balance his diverse commitments and dove headfirst into research.
During his sophomore year, Nomina was encouraged by his faculty mentor, Professor Jeong-Hoi Koo, to join the lab team, which marked the beginning of his research journey. The opportunity later led to an internship at AGarvey, LLC, a Dayton-based engineering firm, where he furthered his experience over the summer. This practical exposure, coupled with an Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) scholarship, allowed him to collaborate with researchers in South Korea, testing smart materials critical to his field of innovation.
"A haptic actuator is something that allows you to interact with a virtual environment," explained Nomina in a statement obtained by Miami University News. He also clarified that "smart materials are any material that has a special response to external stimuli." His research, which delves into the potential of smart materials to simulate complex physical sensations in a virtual space, could revolutionize how professionals are trained across various high-stakes fields. Haptic technology in virtual reality could, for example, significantly cut costs for medical training mannequins, while providing the tactile feedback necessary for realistic procedure simulations. According to Nomina's project, this could extend to astronaut training, where simulating extraterrestrial environments is crucial.
With his research highly commended, Nomina is now focused on continuing his pursuit in the field. "If you have any interest at all, I think Miami is one of the best places to get into research in your undergrad. Miami’s structure is really conducive to finding a lot of success in undergraduate research," Nomina told Miami University News. As he sets his sights towards a Ph.D., Nomina's explorations into virtual reality could well pave the way for profound advancements in how we train for the complex challenges of tomorrow's professions.
