title: Virtual surface characteristics of a tactile display using magneto-rheological fluids.
abstract: Virtual surface characteristics of tactile displays are investigated to characterize the feeling of human touch for a haptic interface application. In order to represent the tactile feeling, a prototype tactile display incorporating Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid has been developed. Tactile display devices simulate the finger's skin to feel the sensations of contact such as compliance, friction, and topography of the surface. Thus, the tactile display can provide information on the surface of an organic tissue to the surgeon in virtual reality. In order to investigate the compliance feeling of a human finger's touch, normal force responses of a tactile display under various magnetic fields have been assessed. Also, shearing friction force responses of the tactile display are investigated to simulate the action of finger dragging on the surface. Moreover, different matrix arrays of magnetic poles are applied to form the virtual surface topography. From the results, different tactile feelings are observed according to the applied magnetic field strength as well as the arrays of magnetic poles combinations. This research presents a smart tactile display technology for virtual surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, Yonghun-dong 253, Nam-gu, Incheon 402-751, Korea. chulhee@inha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Chul-Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface