{"id":667876,"date":"2025-05-08T16:40:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T13:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/a-flexible-haptic-patch-lets-you-feel-the-virtual-world\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T16:40:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T13:40:27","slug":"a-flexible-haptic-patch-lets-you-feel-the-virtual-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-flexible-haptic-patch-lets-you-feel-the-virtual-world\/","title":{"rendered":"A flexible haptic patch lets you feel the virtual world"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3dfd2f1b704\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3dfd2f1b704\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-flexible-haptic-patch-lets-you-feel-the-virtual-world\/#Tiny_powerful_tactile_actuators\" >Tiny, powerful tactile actuators<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-flexible-haptic-patch-lets-you-feel-the-virtual-world\/#A_flexible_skin-conformal_haptic_patch\" >A flexible, skin-conformal haptic patch<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-flexible-haptic-patch-lets-you-feel-the-virtual-world\/#Looking_ahead\" >Looking ahead<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Scenario of bidirectional tactile communication using haptic patch. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t.jpg\" alt=\"Wearable haptics get thinner: A thin, flexible haptic patch lets you feel the virtual world\" title=\"Scenario of bidirectional tactile communication using haptic patch. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon\" width=\"800\" height=\"330\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Scenario of bidirectional tactile communication using haptic patch. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies rapidly evolve, the demand for more immersive, multisensory experiences grows alongside them. Among the key frontiers is tactile feedback\u2014the ability to physically feel the virtual world.<\/p>\n<p>While wearable haptic suits equipped with vibrational motors or fluidic actuators have made strides in enhancing realism, delivering precise, diverse, and natural tactile sensations to the skin remains a major challenge. The limitation has largely stemmed from a lack of compact, lightweight, high-performance tactile actuators.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s where our research takes a bold step forward. My colleagues and I have developed a new class of thin, flexible tactile actuators designed to deliver rich, nuanced haptic feedback directly to the skin.<\/p>\n<p>Our work is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adt4839\" target=\"_blank\">published<\/a> in the journal <i><a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> Advances<\/i>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Actuation of our tiny tactile actuators. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t-1.jpg\" alt=\"Wearable haptics get thinner: A thin, flexible haptic patch lets you feel the virtual world\" title=\"Actuation of our tiny tactile actuators. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Actuation of our tiny tactile actuators. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tiny_powerful_tactile_actuators\"><\/span>Tiny, powerful tactile actuators<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To provide dense and varied tactile sensations, actuators must be both compact and capable of generating a wide range of feedback. Addressing this, we created a novel tactile actuator based on a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA). DEAs produce significant area expansion when voltage is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lied, thanks to the phenomenon known as Maxwell stress. By combining a DEA with a small compressive spring, we successfully converted this area expansion into a linear displacement.<\/p>\n<p>The result is a remarkably small actuator measuring just 6 mm in diameter and 1.1 mm in thickness. Despite its thin, compact design, the actuator can produce tactile sensations ranging from pressure to high-frequency vibrations, all while consuming less than 60 mW of power. Impressively, the actuator is powerful enough to lift a 25 g weight, despite its very light weight of 32 mg.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t-2.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"(a) Thin flexible haptic patch for fingertip and palm of the hand. (b) VR scenario with synchronized contact geometry of virtual box. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t-2.jpg\" alt=\"Wearable haptics get thinner: A thin, flexible haptic patch lets you feel the virtual world\" title=\"(a) Thin flexible haptic patch for fingertip and palm of the hand. (b) VR scenario with synchronized contact geometry of virtual box. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                (a) Thin flexible haptic patch for fingertip and palm of the hand. (b) VR scenario with synchronized contact geometry of virtual box. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_flexible_skin-conformal_haptic_patch\"><\/span>A flexible, skin-conformal haptic patch<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Building upon this actuator, we developed a flexible haptic patch incorporating a dense array of nine actuators within a small fingerpad-sized area. Fabricated on a thin, flexible printed circuit board (PCB), the entire patch weighs only 0.3 g and can comfortably conform to the contours of the skin without hindering natural hand movements. Each actuator is individually controlled, enabling the patch to dynamically render textures, simulate the 3D surfaces of virtual objects, and deliver intricate patterns of tactile feedback.<\/p>\n<p>To complete the system, we integrated a reflective photomicrosensor array, allowing the patch not only to deliver haptic feedback but also to sense touch. This bidirectional capability opens the door for wireless tactile communication in VR environments or between users, where touch sensations can be encoded, transmitted, and recreated in real time.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Looking_ahead\"><\/span>Looking ahead<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Our work introduces a thin, flexible, and lightweight wearable haptic patch, made possible by this next-generation tactile actuator <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>. Beyond VR and AR applications, we believe these actuators hold potential for broader use, including in miniaturized robotics, advanced prosthetics, and medical devices.<\/p>\n<p>By bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds, this technology marks an exciting step toward making touch a natural part of our digital experiences.<\/p>\n<p><i>This story is part of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/news\/dialog\/\" target=\"_blank\">Science X Dialog<\/a>, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/dialog\/\" target=\"_blank\">Visit this page<\/a> for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.<\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJung-Hwan Youn et al, Skin-attached haptic patch for versatile and augmented tactile interaction, <i>Science Advances<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adt4839\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1126\/sciadv.adt4839<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                Jung-Hwan is an postdoctroral researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Before joining, he worked as a post-doc at the Electronics Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI). He finished his Ph.D. in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Techonology (KAIST). His research interests include haptics, soft robotics and human-robot interaction.\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Wearable haptics get thinner: A flexible haptic patch lets you feel the virtual world (2025, May 8)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 8 May 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-05-wearable-haptics-thinner-flexible-haptic.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-05-wearable-haptics-thinner-flexible-haptic.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scenario of bidirectional tactile communication using haptic patch. Credit: Hee-kyung Kwon As virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies rapidly evolve, the demand for more immersive, multisensory experiences grows alongside them. Among the key frontiers is tactile feedback\u2014the ability to physically feel the virtual world. While wearable haptic suits equipped with vibrational motors or&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":667877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/wearable-haptics-get-t.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-667876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=667876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667876\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/667877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=667876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=667876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=667876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}