An innovative wearable device for sensing mechanoreceptor activation during touch

Combined studies on the biophysical properties and friction-induced vibrations measured from the fingerpad during touch have yielded promising results. Thus, the ensuing investigation focuses on the underlying mechanism of how surface's roughness affects tactile perception by analysing the finger friction-induced vibrations signals so as to identify the activation of skin mechanoreceptors. The test consists in measuring the skin friction-induced vibrations through the finger sliding against different surfaces' roughness by dint of a wearable augmented finger. The test illustrates that the magnitude of the vibration acceleration signal increases the rougher the surface is, which follows the trends observed in the scientific literature. A notable correlation was identified between amplitude and spacing parameters, validating the robustness of the measurements. To ensure data comparability, parameters such as normal force and sliding direction were meticulously controlled for each participant. Furthermore, the advanced signal processing strategy uncovered additional parameters related to the activation of skin mechanoreceptors, providing deeper insights into what can be perceived by the finger during tactile exploration. Correlations between these signal parameters and the topographical characteristics of the surfaces were explored, demonstrating that the magnitude of several parameters increased with surface roughness. These findings highlight the capabilities of the innovative device to discriminate different touch.