A teletaction system uses a tactile display to present the user with information about texture, local shape, and/or local compliance. Current tactile displays are at and rigid, and require precise machining and assembly of many parts. This paper describes the fabrication and performance of a one-piece pneumaticallyactuated tactile display molded from silicone rubber. Tactor spacing is 2.5 mm with 1 mm diameter tactor elements. Tactile display compliance ensures contact between the nger and tactile display at all times. Unlike previous pneumatic tactile displays, there is no chamber leakage and no seal friction. A psychophysics experiment showed that a a synthetic grating on the tactile display was perceived as well as a low-passltered real contact.
Gabriel Moy, Christopher R. Wagner, Ronald S. Fear