Tactile Situational Awareness System (TSAS)

Cybernet proposes to develop a tactor that can alter its mechanical compliance. This variable-compliance enabled tactor will stimulate a range of frequencies and amplitudes efficiently. We can then tune the device to optimally overcome the damping properties human skin.By improving the efficiency, we can also drive a larger tactor, which will provide greater skin contact area, thus a larger amount of stimulation. We will do this using multiple actuators per tactor. One actuator will generate vibratory motion while the other will alter the mechanical compliance of the system. Our main point of distinction is that current tactors have a fixed resonant frequency. This limits the range of efficiently achievable frequencies and amplitudes. Also, tactors with a fixed resonant or drive frequency may saturate certain mechanoreceptors, decreasing their sensitivity to stimuli. We propose to develop a tactor that can change its mechanical compliance, and thus its resonant frequency, so we can resonate efficiently at a range of frequencies. Finally, we will provide tools for aircraft integration and tactile profile development.