A team of innovative engineers from Zurich recently unveiled a new haptic sensory system that could revolutionize how people communicate with electronics. For years, electronics have relied on a single or dual-stage actuator-based haptic system. Think of the hum of your phone when you have silent mode initiated. CUTE wearables plan to expand these capabilities and make electronics that leverage your skin as a communication medium.
Wearables, games, and other electronics leverage haptic feedback to notify you of certain conditions. The most common method of providing haptic feedback in electronics is to use actuators. These tiny motors can be turned on and off to provide vibrations when needed.
This approach is effective at notifying you but doesn’t maximize the fact that the skin is the largest organ in your body. It’s filled with sensory receptors and can tell the difference between a gentle tap and a pinch. As such, the skin’s perceptual capabilities extend far past the simple vibration your phone makes when you get a call. Recognizing a missed opportunity, engineers have set off to create a haptic sensor capable of multiple types of interactions.
CUTE Wearables Study
The “Cutaneous Electrohydraulic (CUTE) Wearable Devices for Pleasant Broad-Bandwidth Haptic Cues” study was published in Advanced Science this month. Its study goes in depth regarding the concept of using hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) artificial muscles to create more capable haptic devices.
CUTE wearables can do more than provide the annoying buzz found in today’s electronics. The study demonstrates a system architecture and a new wearable that offers several tactile sensations, including squeezing, taping, rubbing, and more.
Source – Advanced Science
The electrically driven sensor can communicate a huge selection of sensations that were found to be more pleasant than the traditional buzz. For example, imagine sending someone a pinch on social media, and they suddenly feel it in real life. Now, take the concept further and imagine sharing your heartbeat with a loved one across the planet.
Soft Actuator
To create a realistic and lifelike touching sensation, the engineers utilized soft electrohydraulic zipping actuators. The devices utilize a liquid dielectric-filled thermoplastic shell that allows them to remain flexible. On each side of the shell, electrodes cause the surface to deform and alter when current is applied, zipping towards the middle of the device. Specifically, the team achieved a 2.44 mm actuation stroke.
Notably, the CUTE wearable leverages a stack of ten actuator pouches to improve actuation power and capabilities. The small-footprint actuators are energy efficient and enable the device to customize haptic feedback to meet a large selection of requirements.
CUTE Wearables Test
The engineers tested their CUTE wearable device across a variety of metrics. The team began by gathering 14 unrelated participants to test the recognizability of each haptic sensation. The group was split between 7 women and 7 men ranging from 22 to 52 years old.
Each participant was placed in a comfortable chair. Their nondominant hand was placed on an armrest, and a screen, wireless mouse, and noise-canceling earphones were used to drown out any outside interference. The engineers then began communicating using haptic feedback.
After each cue, the participants were asked to determine what voltage pattern best matched the haptic feedback. In total, six haptic feed cues were used with frequencies ranging from 0–200 Hz. Each cue was approximately 6s long.
After hearing the cue, the participant then selected how it felt on an emotional chart. This part of the testing helped the engineers determine that CUTE wearables provide a comfortable experience. Notably, the only haptic feedback that was ranked as being annoying was the traditional one found in your cell phone.
CUTE Wearables Test Results
The test results were impressive. The engineers found that 97.9% of participants could accurately determine each of the six cues with little effort. Notably, six of those tested achieved a perfect score, meaning they could communicate diverse sensations from relaxation to excitement using the device. Impressively, the device was found to be capable of generating forces over 2.3 N at distances of +8.0 mm.
CUTE Wearables Benefits
Many benefits could make a more complex and capable haptic system a game changer. Imagine being able to tell who was calling without looking based on the vibration or feeling you get from the sensor. The ability to provide diversified tactile sensations allows engineers to create more immersive and helpful applications.
Compact
Another major reason why many people see this research as crucial to creating tomorrow’s electronics is that most haptic systems today rely on heavy actuators. This requirement limits the size of haptic feedback-capable electronics and adds to their overall weight. The CUTE wearables architecture eliminates this issue by creating a customized compact feedback sensor that can support the smallest wearables.
Comfortable
Comfortability is one of the main things that many wearable engineers seem to forget. Nobody wants to be uncomfortable all day, even if it means they can take calls from their wrist. CUTE wearables have an ergonomic design and materials that are designed to feel like human skin. Additionally, these devices won’t heat up, even after extended use. As such, they are ideal for long-term wearables and other applications where lightweight options are the best.
Silent
Another major benefit of CUTE wearables is that they are designed to be silent. Your phone may be in silent mode but everyone can hear that vibration in your pocket. Additionally, you’re still going to need to take it out to see who it is, or peer at your smartwatch. CUTE wearables would eliminate this mystery by allowing you to create special haptic feedback for each caller. This approach provides extra discretion when needed.
Safe
Safety is the main concern for CUTE wearable users and developers. These devices feature a host of design elements and protection to ensure you don’t have to worry about electrocution, fire, or other possible risks. For example, CUTE wearables incorporate an elastomeric membrane and leverage actuator encapsulation to prevent any danger to the user. Also, the device only uses low-resistance electrodes, further lowering shock risks.
Energy Efficient
One of the biggest benefits of CUTE wearable tech is its energy efficiency. The unit that was tested showed that it only required 3.0 mW when holding an extended position. This low energy consumption means that more actuators can be used in projects. Additionally, CUTE wearables have longer battery life, making them ideal for the next-gen wearables ready to hit the market in the coming months.
CUTE Wearables Applications
Aside from being able to power lightweight wearable systems that can offer more tactile responses and communication. There are several other applications that this technology could be used to enhance. For example, this tech could be integrated into VR and AR systems to enhance realism.
It could also serve as a way to provide nonvisual directions to drivers or even the visually impaired. Picture your smart wearable tapping you on the right side of the wrist to indicate going to the right, or squeezing your wrist, letting you know that you are approaching the exit you need.
Safety Systems
Another use case scenario would be creating safety warning systems that include tactile feedback. These systems would be ideal for busy and noisy environments that require monitoring of complex metrics. In the future, a simple pinch on the wrist could let a safety inspector know that they need to turn a valve off or other actions.
CUTE Wearables Researchers
Research for the CUTE wearables study was held at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Specifically, the Haptic Intelligence Department was tasked with making the device functional. They employed the assistance of Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, as well as the Robotic Materials Department. Now, the team seeks to expand their creation and see what other use-case scenarios can be achieved.
Companies that Could Introduce CUTE Wearables Tech and Prosper
Several companies could benefit from the details of this study. From smartwatch and phone manufacturers to smart car and clothing factories, there are a lot of use cases for this tech. Here is one company that could gain immediate benefits from integration.
Garmin
Garmin (GRMN +0.58%) entered the market as a navigation systems provider in 1989. Originally named ProNAV, the company’s founders, Gary Burrell and Min Kao, started off with a focus on aircraft and marine activity. Ten years later, their technology had advanced enough to be viable in handheld devices created for the average motorist.
Garmon is a leading GPS provider and one of the best-known names in the industry. It has branched out with its offerings to include wearables, fitness trackers, dog trackers, and much more. The integration of a CUTE wearables feedback system could open the door for more capable and user-friendly devices.
Garmin Ltd. (GRMN +0.58%)
Notably, Garmin has made several large acquisitions since its launch. Each acquisition added to the company’s wearables capabilities. Consequently, today it’s in the top 3 smartwatch manufacturers in the world. As such, analysts predict the company to see continued growth as the wearables market expands.
CUTE Wearables – A New Way to Communicate
The CUTE wearables concept is a major upgrade to a system that hasn’t seen much change in decades. Think about it, pagers had a similar vibration function to today’s most advanced smartphones. Thanks to this ingenuitive team of researchers, your electronics may soon be able to send discreet, complex, and easily recognizable communications to you, using nothing but touch.
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