Film-type haptic actuator made with cellulose acetate layers

We report a film-type haptic actuator made with two cellulose acetate active membranes and an air gap. Two different configurations of the actuators, double cellulose acetate membranes and single cellulose acetate membrane, are investigated. Due to the intensified electrostatic attraction force between chargeable cellulose acetate membranes, the double cellulose acetate membrane case shows over 300% displacement enhancement. Under a bias electric field, the displacement can be 200% improved comparing with no bias case. When the actuator performance of the cellulose acetate membrane is compared with polyethylene terephthalate and polyvinyl chloride membranes, the cellulose acetate membrane shows superior displacement output due to its high dielectric property. The cellulose acetate double membrane actuator has a great potential as kinesthetic actuator of haptic devices.