Tactical Telehaptic Communication (HAPTAC)

The current effort proposes the conceptualization of a portable, low power, lightweight, unobtrusive, real time, tactile communication display system which provides real-time information to squad members during operations where the use of audio or vision is limited. Under this effort, investigators will build upon previous success in developing a tactile display device that displays 56 distinct tactor symbols representing special operations forces hand signal communications. During Phase I, investigators will expand the communication language based on symbol construction rules and context-free grammar production rules for presenting complex information associated with mission level, squad level and individual squad member information requirements critical to maintaining situation awareness during mission performance. This will include consideration of both verbal and hand signal communications during approach to and objective completion. The goal of the HAPTAC system will be to expand the vocabulary of the previously developed tactile display system while at the same time reducing size, weight and power requirements. The HAPTAC system will be fully developed in Phase II based on the system conceptualized during Phase I. The resultant haptic communication display system will enhance information throughput, situation awareness, and performance of squad leaders and team members by utilizing human multimodal information processing capabilities.