Soft, conductive, and micropatterned elastomeric interfaces

<p dir="ltr">Cutaneous haptic feedback has recently attracted a surge of interest from fields like robotic teleoperation, virtual reality, and education because of its potential to communicate substantial information to a human user about their interactions with the environment. This increasing focus underscores the importance of tactile sensations in effective human-robot interactions. Within this context, the recreation of tactile experiences such as textures, softness, and adhesiveness presents a significant challenge in advancing haptic device technology. Adding to the complexity is the utilization of soft materials for a compliant and adaptable interface that can effectively convey nuanced tactile sensations. Based on the previous work on conductive bio-inspired elastomeric electrodes and an actuation system for a tunable bio-inspired dry adhesive, this study addresses the challenge of softness feedback sensation through the design and fabrication of 3D printed magnetically actuatable micro-structures. using a UV-curable magnetic elastomer. An array of these micro-structures covered by a thin layer of a magnetic elastomer is used to fabricate a pad that, through magnetic stimulation, can serve as a tactile haptic interface. The user's haptic perception was evaluated and the softness sensations were clearly identified by the test subjects.</p>