Powerful Compact Tactile Display with Microhydraulic Actuators

In minimally invasive surgery, tactile feedback is lacking. A tactile display, consisting of a matrix of micro-actuators, represents tactile sensations on the fingertip. Miniaturising powerful, dynamic and accurate actuators with a sufficient stroke is a considerable challenge. This paper presents a proof of concept of a tactile display, based on microhydraulic actuators. A prototype with five taxels is designed, built and evaluated. The result is a light and compact display. It is mobile, has a stroke of 2 mm, a spatial resolution of 2 mm and can exert a maximal force of 0.5 N. The actuation principle is innovative in the field of tactile displays and has a great potential.

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