On-skin Telehaptic Device Enables Remote Touch Transmission: The use of AR/VR technology is being hailed as the next big thing in the world of consumer electronics. Haptics, an interface technology fundamental to AR/VR, requires designers to make physical interactions with gadgets feel both natural and intuitive.
Researchers at South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) have just published a study detailing a significant development in the field of “telehaptics.” The group designed a gadget that can be attached to the user’s fingertips to enable real-time, remote transmission of touch.
Explain the concept of Telehaptics.
Haptics is the study of and application of technologies that make use of tactile sensations for data collection and manipulation. Devices like smartphones and watches use haptics in the form of vibration motors to provide a haptic experience to their users.
The next big thing in AR / VR will be haptics device:
"On-skin Telehaptic Device Allows Users to Transmit Touch Remotely "https://t.co/s8scuscP4x
— La Voix du Chat Artiste (@42s_video) December 14, 2022
In contrast, telehaptics involves the online distribution of synthetic tactile experiences manufactured by computers. The purpose of telehaptics is to enable the transfer of tactile data between electronic devices.
A telehaptic glove, for instance, may record a user’s tactile sensations, send that data to another user, and cause that person to experience identical sensations. The ultimate purpose of this technology is to facilitate cooperative virtual interactions among users through the exchange of tactile sensations.
Consequences of Telehaptic Technology
Telehaptics requires multiple parts, such as tactile sensors, a wireless connection, and tactile actuators that can simulate real-world touches.
One difficulty is that devices have to be somewhat big because of the number of parts needed for a telehaptic system. A telehaptic glove was used as an illustration earlier. The natural feel of the system relies on the glove being light enough that it doesn’t seem like you’re wearing anything. The glove needs to be pliable so that it can adapt to the changing contour of the hand.
The weight, adaptability, and functionality of a telehaptic system are all factors that must be considered by designers. Comfortable, versatile, and high-performing telehaptic systems are currently the focus of research.
Scientists Develop Method to Instantaneously and Remotely Transmit Touch
New research out of ETRI describes an ultra-flexible on-skin telehaptic system that can be worn on a user’s fingertip to transmit touch remotely and in real time.
The system developed by the study team makes use of a combination of quick adaptive and slow adaptive mechanoreceptor-like pressure sensors to record tactile data. This array captures both the static and dynamic pressures felt by the fingertip as it perceives tactile sensations, with a frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz. An off-the-shelf processing module worn on the back of the hand amplifies and processes the collected tactile information before transmitting it to the receiver.
After receiving this data, a system recreates the sensation of touch using a customized array of piezoceramic actuators with a scale of a few millimeters at most. These actuators were developed to produce vibration patterns with a high spatial resolution and a pitch of 1.8 mm. In order to keep the actuator array flexible and reduce stress during mechanical deformation, it is integrated on a bendable substrate in a cross pattern.
The prototype demonstrated the viability of a versatile telehaptic system without compromising performance, as was the goal of the research. The team’s long-term goal is to expand upon this prototype and develop a fully functional system.
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