Project TouchStone

The DOD seeks a touchscreen ruggedized with a reconfigurable physical button module for use in harsh environments such as a US Navy Aircraft Flight Deck. Current touchscreen systems do not provide sufficient tactile feedback for Navy personnel. Software buttons are easily reconfigurable, but the physical feedback for the user (vibrational/haptic) when pressing those buttons is often too low intensity to be felt through gloves and in high stress high vibration environments such as the flight deck. This makes using touchscreens challenging as the user does not know if software buttons were selected or not. Physical buttons provide sufficient mechanical feedback, but generally are difficult to reprogram. Many of the systems used by the flight crew are safety critical, so it is imperative that the user gets adequate feedback when software button selections are made, such that they can maintain focus and situational awareness on deck. A system is desired that integrates a physical button module that is reconfigurable, rugged, and programmable into a touchscreen display. Mid proposes to develop a novel clear touchscreen overlay, featuring a suspended piezo-electric array. The piezoelectric array suspension will provide intelligent haptic feedback balancing traditional mechanical button sensation and improved vibro-tactile stimulus.