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Writer's pictureAishwari Talhan, Ph.D.

Tactile Ring: Multi-mode pneumatic actuator

Updated: Mar 22

In this work, we extend the potential of pneumatic actuation from creating static pressure haptic feedback to generate not only high frequency (up to 250Hz.) but also impact.



We designed and developed a multi-mode, soft silicone-made, and wearable pneumatic actuator. This soft actuator made by platinum curing Ecoflex silicone using a systematic fabrication process. The architecture of this actuator consists of an upper layer of non-stretchable material, air cavity, and inner layer with stretchable silicone 2mm thick membrane. When air inserted inside the cavity, the stretchable layer gets stretched and inflates inward and pushes the skin, and the non-stretchable layer preserves the out-ward inflation as results maintain its shape and size.


The systematic programmable electro-pneumatic control renders the various effect - static pressure, vibro-tactile (up to 250 Hz.), and impact – hence multi-mode actuator.



Pneumatic actuation has the potential to generate rich and multi-mode haptic feedback. At this end, we used small and fast operating pneumatic valve, programmable NRF control for electro-pneumatic hardware, batteries for power supply, and a small CO2 cartridge as an air supply aided to replace conventional noisy air supply, hence pneumatic actuated, small size portable, wireless, wearable multi-mode haptic interface.


The potential applications of this multi-mode actuator are VR/AR, assistive alert, and entertainment.

We developed a VR/AR-based application where not only virtual textures rendered using high-frequency vibrotactile feedback but also clicked effect using impact.



We have demonstrated this work in World Haptics 2019, Tokyo, Japan and SIGRAPH 2019, Los Angeles, USA.



For more detail and understanding please refer our related published articles,

Aishwari Talhan, Hwangil Kim, Seokhee Jeon

Tactile Ring: Multi-Mode Finger-Worn Soft Actuator for Rich Haptic Feedback. IEEE Access Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp-957-966 2019.

Aishwari Talhan, Hwangil Kim, Seokhee Jeon: Wearable soft pneumatic ring with multi-mode controlling for rich haptic effects. SIGGRAPH Posters 2019: 65:1-65:2


Aishwari Talhan, Seokhee Jeon: Pneumatic Actuation in Haptic-Enabled Medical Simulators: A Review. IEEE Access 6: 3184-3200 (2018)


Another application of such haptic interface is for entertainment. This video feature this interface in the video game for every mouse clicks.


In this video, we simulated the trigger pushing haptic feedback in the pre-built game just by integrating the tactile ring within the environment.

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