Fully addressable textile sensor array for self-powered haptic interfacing

Summary

Wearable kinesthetic communication technology is a critical foundation for the rapidly evolving human-metaverse interface. Here, we introduce a fully embedded textile tactile sensor array that provides accurate and real-time haptic feedback. Benefiting from a reliable and scalable spacer-thread-based woven structure, it allows for tactile detection with a fine resolution of 0.1 mm and a rapid response time of 30 ms. Despite its advanced functionality, our haptic textile maintains superior wearing comfort and is designed to function without crosstalk or interference from environmental factors or motion artifacts. We demonstrate the potential of our haptic textile through the development of a machine-learning-assisted haptic textile glove, which enables individuals to experience virtual objects through the sense of touch. This glove uses tactile feedback to distinguish between materials based on roughness and can even recognize shapes as delicate as small insect footprints with an accuracy of 95.8%.