Bioelastic state recovery for haptic sensory substitution

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Flavin, Matthew T.; Ha, Kyoung-Ho; Guo, Zengrong; Li, Shupeng; Kim, Jin-Tae; Saxena, Tara; Simatos, Dimitrios; Al-Najjar, Fatimah; Mao, Yuxuan; Bandapalli, Shishir; Fan, Chengye; Bai, Dongjun; Zhang, Zhuang; Zhang, Yanlin; Flavin, Eunhye; Madsen, Kenneth E.; Huang, Yi; Emu, Luoqian; Zhao, Jingyang; Yoo, Jae-Young; Park, Minsu; Shin, Jaeho; Huang, Aaron G.; Shin, Hee-Sup; Colgate, J. Edward; Huang, Yonggang; Xie, Zhaoqian; Jiang, Hanqing; Rogers, John A.
• 署名单位: University System of Georgia; Georgia Institute of Technology; Northwestern University; Westlake University; Northwestern University; Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH); Northwestern University; Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Dalian University of Technology; Dalian University of Technology; Dalian University of Technology; University System of Georgia; Georgia Institute of Technology; University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU); Dankook University; Korea Institute of Science & Technology (KIST); Northwestern University; Northwestern University; Westlake University; Westlake University; Northwestern University; Feinberg School of Medicine
• 刊物名称: Nature
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0028-6669
• DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08155-9
• 发表日期: 2024-11-14

摘要

The rich set of mechanoreceptors found in human skin1,2 offers a versatile engineering interface for transmitting information and eliciting perceptions3,4, potentially serving a broad range of applications in patient care5 and other important industries6,7. Targeted multisensory engagement of these afferent units, however, faces persistent challenges, especially for wearable, programmable systems that need to operate adaptively across the body8-11. Here we present a miniaturized electromechanical structure that, when combined with skin as an elastic, energy-storing element, supports bistable, self-sensing modes of deformation. Targeting specific classes of mechanoreceptors as the basis for distinct, programmed sensory responses, this haptic unit can deliver both dynamic and static stimuli, directed as either normal or shear forces. Systematic experimental and theoretical studies establish foundational principles and practical criteria for low-energy operation across natural anatomical variations in the mechanical properties of human skin. A wireless, skin-conformable haptic interface, integrating an array of these bistable transducers, serves as a high-density channel capable of rendering input from smartphone-based 3D scanning and inertial sensors. Demonstrations of this system include sensory substitution designed to improve the quality of life for patients with visual and proprioceptive impairments. Inspired by the art of kirigami, a haptic device based on a miniaturized electromechanical structure combined with skin as an elastic, energy-storing element demonstrates bioelastic state recovery and can be used in sensory substitution.