US Patent 10226869 Haptic virtual fixture tools

Apparatus and methods for defining and utilizing virtual fixtures for haptic navigation within real-world environments, including underwater environments, are provided. A computing device can determine a real-world object within a real-world environment. The computing device can receive an indication of the real-world object. The computing device can determine a virtual fixture that corresponds to the real-world object based on the indication, where aspects of the virtual fixture are configured to align with aspects of the real-world object. The computing device can provide a virtual environment for manipulating the robotic tool to operate on the real-world object utilizing the virtual fixture. The virtual fixture is configured to provide haptic feedback based on a position of a virtual robotic tool in the virtual environment that corresponds to the robotic tool in the real-world environment.