HaptiComm-S20: Force-Feedback Characterization of Tactile Stimuli for Deafblind Communication
摘要
HaptiComm-S20 is a tactile communication device designed to facilitate touch-mediated interactions for individuals with Deafblindness. This paper presents changes in the device design through a revised actuator layout and the integration of the Actronika haptic driver board. Owing to the board’s capacity limitation of 20 actuators, underutilized actuators were removed to ensure the retention of only the most perceptually critical elements. Additionally, nine novel tactile stimulation patterns were developed to refine the encoding of tactile messages. Comprehensive experiments–evaluating force output under varied frequencies and amplitudes and comparing single-actuator with multi-actuator activation–demonstrate that modifications in ripple current directly influence force generation, thereby improving both mechanical stability and perceptual reliability. These enhancements offer critical insights for developing more efficient, high-resolution tactile communication systems for the Deafblind community.