Abstract
This paper presents a new concept of low-cost, high-resolution, lightweight, compact and highly portable tactile display. The prototype consists of an array of 8 × 8 upward/downward independent moveable pins based on shape memory alloy (SMA) technology. Each tactile actuator consists of an antagonist arranged pair of miniature NiTi SMA helical springs capable of developing a 300 mN pull force at 1.5 Hz bandwidth by using simple forced-air convection. The proposed concept allows the development of 200 g weight tactile instruments of compact dimensions which can be easily carried by a visually disabled user. A detailed technical description of the SMA active element, tactile actuator and tactile display is presented and discussed. Preliminary perceptual results confirm the effectiveness of the display on information transmission.
Highlights
Tactile displays are devices meant to stimulate the skin, on fingertips, to create sensations of contact
The prototype consists of an array of 8 × 8 upward/downward independent moveable pins based on shape memory alloy (SMA) technology
This paper suggests that SMA springs can be designed to exert significant forces for touch applications having at the same time stroke and compactness not offered by straight wires
Summary
Tactile displays are devices meant to stimulate the skin, on fingertips, to create sensations of contact. Such devices have for a long time been the domain of developments for visual information transmission for the visually impaired: reading (Braille characters) and some graphic/pictorial representation of 2D scenes. This field has expanded to involve potential uses in virtual reality, sensory augmentation, sensory substitution, tele-surgery, rehabilitation, robotics, game and entertainment among many others. A Braille cell (eight contact pins), which represents a single character, costs around 40 USD and about 80 cells are typically used for displaying a line of text (NFB 2007)
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