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A team of researchers from the University of California San Diego has developed an innovative soft, stretchy electronic device capable of simulating pressure or vibration when worn on the skin. This breakthrough, reported in a paper published in Science Robotics, represents a significant step toward creating haptic technologies that can reproduce a more diverse and realistic range of touch sensations.
Soft, stretchable electrode recreates sensations of vibration or pressure on the skin through electrical stimulation.
Credit
Liezel Labios/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering
The device features a soft, stretchable electrode attached to a silicone patch, which can be comfortably worn like a sticker on either the fingertip or forearm. By directly contacting the skin, the electrode connects to an external power source via wires. When a mild electrical current is applied through the skin, the device generates sensations of pressure or vibration, depending on the signal frequency.
“Our goal is to create a wearable system that delivers a wide spectrum of touch sensations using electrical signals—without causing discomfort for the wearer,” explained study co-first author Rachel Blau, a postdoctoral researcher in nano engineering at UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering.
Unlike existing technologies that often induce pain due to rigid metal electrodes, this soft electrode conforms seamlessly to the skin. The team achieved this by developing a novel polymer material composed of two existing polymers: a conductive, rigid polymer called PEDOT:PSS and a soft, stretchy polymer known as PPEGMEA. By optimizing the ratio of these building blocks, they created a material that combines conductivity with stretchability.
The polymer electrode is laser-cut into a spring-shaped, concentric design and affixed to a silicone substrate. This design enhances stretchability and ensures precise localization of electrical stimulation, preventing discomfort.
In tests, the electrode device was worn on participants’ forearms. Collaborating with behavioral scientists and psychologists from the University of Amsterdam, the researchers identified the lowest detectable electrical current. By adjusting the stimulation frequency, participants experienced either pressure or vibration sensations.
Interestingly, increasing the frequency led to a stronger perception of vibration. This insight could revolutionize haptic devices for applications such as virtual reality, medical prosthetics, and wearable technology.
Paper Details:
- Title: “Conductive Block Copolymer Elastomers and Psychophysical Thresholding for Accurate Haptic Effects”
- Co-authors: Alexander X. Chen, Tarek Rafeedi, Robert Ramji, Taewoo Kim, Laura L. Becerra, Samuel Edmunds, Samantha M. Russman, Shadi A. Dayeh, and David P. Fenning (UC San Diego); Nicholas Root and Romke Rouw (University of Amsterdam)
This groundbreaking work received support from the National Science Foundation’s Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program (CBET-2223566) and was conducted in part at the San Diego Nanotechnology Infrastructure (SDNI).123