journal article·2025-07-16Open access

Low-voltage wearable tactile display with thermo-pneumatic actuation

A. Mazzotta, S. Taccola, I. Cesini, M. Sanchez Sifuentes, R. A. Harris, V. Mattoli

npj Flexible Electronics· Volume 9· Issue 1

Abstract

Abstract Tactile displays often face challenges like high power consumption, bulky control systems, and limited portability, hindering their application in wearable technologies. This work presents a novel thermo-pneumatic tactile display that operates via localized heating of a small air volume, enabling low-voltage operation with standard batteries. Its fully portable design integrates control electronics into a wearable bracelet with Bluetooth activation, enhancing practicality. Mechanical tests demonstrated the device’s ability to generate forces exceeding 30 mN and displacements of tens of microns using pulsed signals with modulable durations and frequencies. User tests with voluntary participants confirmed its effectiveness as a tactile display, achieving 83% accuracy in recognizing Braille patterns. By addressing key limitations of traditional systems, this approach offers a promising solution for compact, low-power wearable tactile interfaces.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Tactile and Sensory Interactions · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Interactive and Immersive Displays

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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