Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2025

A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator TAPS
Published on: June 3, 2009
Touch IoT enabled by wireless self-sensing and haptic-reproducing electronic skin
Dengfeng Li1,2, Jingkun Zhou1,2, Kuanming Yao1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
Abstract:
Tactile sensations are mainly transmitted to each other by physical touch. Wireless touch perception could be a revolution for us to interact with the world. Here, we report a wireless self-sensing and haptic-reproducing electronic skin (e-skin) to realize noncontact touch communications. A flexible self-sensing actuator was developed to provide an integrated function in both tactile sensing and haptic feedback. When this e-skin was dynamically pressed, the actuator generated an induced voltage as tactile information. Via wireless communication, another e-skin could receive this tactile data and run a synchronized haptic reproduction. Thus, touch could be wirelessly conveyed in bidirections between two users as a touch intercom. Furthermore, this e-skin could be connected with various smart devices to form a touch internet of things where one-to-one and one-to-multiple touch delivery could be realized. This wireless touch presents huge potentials in remote touch video, medical care/assistance, education, and many other applications.
Related Concept Videos
Design Example: Resistive Touchscreen
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
Tactile and Chemical Senses
Sensory Functions of the Skin
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
Somatosensation
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

