A research team led by Professor Wang Dangxiao from the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation at Beihang University has achieved a significant breakthrough in high-resolution tactile display technology. Their paper, titled “A Multi-Layer Stacked Microfluidic Tactile Display With High Spatial Resolution,” was published in the prestigious journal IEEE Transactions on Haptics (ToH) and honored with the 2024 IEEE Transactions on Haptics Best Application Paper Award.

A a multi-layered stacked microfluidic tactile display with high spatial resolution

Tactile sensation is one of the most fundamental human senses, enabling us to perceive and interact with the physical world. However, existing tactile display devices face limitations in rendering detailed tactile patterns or fine textures due to challenges in densely integrating pneumatic actuators within a small space (fingertip).

In contrast to the structure with a single-layer layout of pipes, the authors proposed a multi-layered stacked microfluidic pipe structure that allows for a higher density of actuators and retains their independent actuation capabilities. Based on the proposed structure, they developed a soft microfluidic tactile display with a spatial resolution of 1.25 mm. The device consists of a 5 × 5 array of independently addressable microactuators, driven by pneumatic pressure, each of which enables independent actuation of the surface film and continuous control of the height. At a relative pressure of 1000 mbar, the actuator produced a perceptible out-of-plane deformation of 0.145 mm and a force of 17.7 mN. User studies showed that subjects can easily distinguish eight tactile patterns with 96% accuracy.

The study addresses the growing demand for high-resolution, flexible tactile displays in virtual reality, assistive technologies, and fine motor interactions. The IEEE ToH Awards Committee praised the work: “Develops a novel 3D microchannel design for a high-resolution fingertip tactile display, demonstrating how finely pneumatic actuators can be integrated into the compact area of the fingertip.”

IEEE Transactions on Haptics (ToH) is a leading international journal taht addresses the science, technology, and applications associated with information acquisition and object manipulation through touch. Published quarterly, it features high-impact research on tactile perception, haptic interfaces, and display systems. Since 2017, ToH has awarded an annual Best Application Paper Award to recognize studies with significant real-world applicability.

Ph.D. candidate Shan Boxue from the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation is the first author of the paper, with Professor Wang Dangxiao serving as the corresponding author. The School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, is the primary affiliation of the research. The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Editor: Lyu Xingyun