Healable Thermoplastic for Kinesthetic Feedback in Wearable Haptic Devices.

ABSTRACT: The word "haptics" refers to technologies designed to stimulate the tactile and kinesthetic senses. Kinesthesia-the sense of motion-is triggered by imposing forces upon the joints, tendons, and muscles to recreate the geometry and stiffness of objects, as may be useful in physical therapy or virtual reality. Here, we introduce a form of kinesthetic feedback by manipulating the mechanical properties of spandex impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer. Heating or cooling this textile-thermoplastic composite just above or below its glass transition temperature (T g) dramatically changes its mechanical properties (corresponding to a decrease in storage modulus from 36 MPa to 0.55 MPa). In the form of a glove, the composite can also be healed after inadvertent overextension in its stiffened sta

SUBMITTER: Carpenter CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6880936 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature