HAPT-EDGE: HAPTICS IN SOFT EFFECTORS FOR SMART INTERACTIVE ASSISTIVE FRAMEWORKS

Tactile sensors help in modeling the intrinsic and external touch sensation. Tactile sensing can refer to the touch in multiple points of contact and refer to the process of detecting and measuring a given property of a contact event in a predetermined area at multiple points of contact. The Haptic system helps in creating a “sense of touch” about the environment through stimuli at a single contact point. Effectors are the end point of robotic frameworks that interact with the real world. From prosthetic hands to precision grippers, effectors made of soft flexible materials have been used for various biomedical applications. The research goal of this project is to integrate haptics in soft effectors for two-way communication in an assistive framework. In this research, we will investigate the use of haptics for creating environmental awareness and for taking the user input. Modeling the user input using the haptics will include interpreting the hand gestures. The proposed framework will use the haptic signals at specific frequencies to provide sensor feedback and interpret the user’s hand gestures as user inputs for navigation assistance. In implementing such a framework, the research will also focus on the use of micro actuators or vibration motors for providing precise feedback. The framework will include custom-made soft effectors, robotic cane/walker, algorithms to model the user input, actuators, and vibration sensitive filaments for closing the loop. This research will significantly contribute to the next generation mobility assistive frameworks with interactive feature.