Intelligent soft contact surface technology with MEMS in robotic and human augmented systems

This paper presents the framework of the smart anthropomorphic contact surface technology (SACST) based upon robotics theories, to employ MEMS devices in a distributed system, and to integrate the sensory information for feedback control to import intelligence. The technology can be applied to empower intelligence to the design of seats, beds, wheelchair, shoes, and artificial skin for robot arms. SACST utilizes the soft contact model, which subsumes the Hertzian contact model (Hertz, 1882), normal force and pressure distribution at the contact interface, friction limit surface, and stiffness of contact to dynamically reshape the surface through embedded MEMS transducer systems in real time. Such designs can also implement dynamic functions such as massage or tilting of contact surfaces. We will present the ongoing development in SACST and the associated scientific principles. In the end, the framework will be able to free up users from lower level tasks in order that they can concentrate on higher level tasks.