Expendable Wireless Graphical Flex Terminal and Body-Worn Computer

Currently, communication between soldiers at the squad level is mainly limited to voice and hand signals. However, the realities of combat, including loud noise such as explosions, and line-of-sight obstructions, often degrade these communications. DARPA is interested in exploring the use of tactile human interfaces as an alternative communications channel between soldiers. The initial goal is to quantify the amount of information that can be received by a wearer relative to conventional hand signals, subject to real-world attention and perception limitations. Typical vibrotactile array approaches (e.g. vibrating motors) do not provide the actuator speed or control needed to adequately quantify this figure. Mide proposes a high-speed, conformable, direct-touch tactile array based on the piezoelectric principle, leveraging Mide’s existing QuickPack/PowerAct manufacturing process. This array will provide direct, continuous control of the position, velocity, and phase of each actuator (tactor), ensuring that the human body, not the test apparatus, is the limiting factor in continuing research. Since each piezotactor is also a sensor, the array doubles as an intuitive tactile input device.