An Airflow-Based Thermal-Tactile-Olfactory Display: Performance Evaluation Under AC and DC Airflow Conditions

Developing a multimodal tactile display is a key area of interest for haptic scientists, with researchers continuously exploring new methods to achieve this goal. This study introduces a tactile-olfactory display capable of providing touch, temperature, and odor feedback. The display utilizes airflow to deliver feedback to the user, incorporating two air sources and thermoelectric components (Peltier elements). Unlike traditional technologies, it employs convection-based temperature stimulation, where air passing over the thermoelectric modules cools or warms, resulting in temperature modulation. The system was tested under steady airflow conditions (DC airflow) and frequency-modulated airflow conditions (AC airflow). First, a finite element simulation was conducted in Ansys to gain insights into the system parameters. This was followed by experimental evaluations to extract its characteristics and assess its performance. The results indicate that not only the type of airflow but also its rate and frequency play significant roles in rendering surface parameters. Additionally, this airflow-based tactile display has potential applications in both contact and noncontact haptic technologies.