Tactile Feedback for Perception of Form and Texture

我们还没有很好地理解表面纹理和物体形状的触觉感知的机制。 人类的指尖特别擅长这种辨别，特别是当它在表面上主动移动时。 该项目使用了一种称为“形状记忆合金”的新型材料，这种金属可以通过短暂的电热脉冲迅速变形成图案。 使用这种材料的单元构建的刺激器用于将高度量化的空间和时间模式传递到指尖上的30个元件的阵列，以模拟表面粗糙度和边缘检测，就像手指扫过表面一样。 操纵的频率，强度和空间分布将允许定量评估的感知歧视，识别和相似性评级的主题，比较模拟表面与实际的。 结果将是重要的，涉及到生理为基础的模型的机械感受器功能的触觉，和感知的纹理和形式。 潜在的影响超出了机械感觉神经科学，进入残疾人的辅助设备领域，以及远程机器人和虚拟环境应用的触觉反馈。

We do not understand well the mechanisms underlying the tactile perception of surface texture and object shape. The human fingertip is exceptionally good at such discriminations, particularly when it is actively moved over surfaces. This project utilizes a novel material called a "shape-memory-alloy" which is a metal that can rapidly be deformed into patterns by brief electrical heat pulses. The stimulator built with units of this material is used to deliver highly quantified spatial and temporal patterns to an array of 30 elements on the fingertip, to simulate surface roughness and edge detection as though the finger were sweeping across a surface. Manipulation of frequency, intensity, and spatial distribution will allow quantitative evaluation of perceptual discrimination, identification, and similarity ratings by subjects, comparing simulated surfaces with actual ones. Results will be important to relate to physiologically-based models of mechanoreceptor function in touch sensation, and the perception of texture and form. The potential impact extends beyond mechanosensory neuroscience into the areas of aids for the handicapped, and tactile feedback for telerobotic and virtual environment applications.