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A mechatronic shape display based on auxetic materials

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony Steed

    (Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way
    University College London)

  • Eyal Ofek

    (Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way)

  • Mike Sinclair

    (Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way)

  • Mar Gonzalez-Franco

    (Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way)

Abstract

Shape displays enable people to touch simulated surfaces. A common architecture of such devices uses a mechatronic pin-matrix. Besides their complexity and high cost, these matrix displays suffer from sharp edges due to the discreet representation which reduces their ability to render a large continuous surface when sliding the hand. We propose using an engineered auxetic material actuated by a smaller number of motors. The material bends in multiple directions, feeling smooth and rigid to touch. A prototype implementation uses nine actuators on a 220 mm square section of material. It can display a range of surface curvatures under the palm of a user without aliased edges. In this work we use an auxetic skeleton to provide rigidity on a soft material and demonstrate the potential of this class of surface through user experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Steed & Eyal Ofek & Mike Sinclair & Mar Gonzalez-Franco, 2021. "A mechatronic shape display based on auxetic materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24974-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24974-0
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    Cited by:

    1. B. K. Johnson & M. Naris & V. Sundaram & A. Volchko & K. Ly & S. K. Mitchell & E. Acome & N. Kellaris & C. Keplinger & N. Correll & J. S. Humbert & M. E. Rentschler, 2023. "A multifunctional soft robotic shape display with high-speed actuation, sensing, and control," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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