Development of a System for Tactile Reception of Advanced Patterns (STRAP) to Support Bi-directional Haptic Communication

The current effort proposes the development of a portable, low power, lightweight, unobtrusive, real time, bi-directional haptic communication system using vibratory tactors and sensors embedded in combat attire, which provides real-time information to squad leaders and individual warfighters during limited vision or out-of-sight operations. During Phase I, investigators will develop and validate a System for Tactile Reception of Advanced Patterns (STRAP) that uses vibrotactile technology to display a haptic communication language developed under this effort. The haptic language will consist of haptic symbols and a generative grammar for presenting complex information associated with Special Operations Forces (SOF), such as warfighter posture, movement and weapon status, as well as a means to convey commands such as those currently conveyed via hand signals. Phase II will incorporate the STRAP and embedded Team Status and Signaling System (TS3) systems (parallel effort by AnthroTronix) into a single bi-directional haptic communication system, and validation of techniques developed in parallel Phase I efforts for conveying status information, issuing haptic commands, and summarizing status and command information for haptic presentation will be completed. The resultant haptic communication system will enhance information throughput, situation awareness, and performance of SOF team members by utilizing human multimodal information processing capabilities.