Open AccessTexture design for light touch perception
Author(s) -
Sheng Zhang,
Xiangqiong Zeng,
D.T.A. Matthews,
A. Igartua,
E. Rodríguez-Vidal,
Jana Fortes,
Emile van der Heide
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
biosurface and biotribology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.497
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2405-4518
DOI - 10.1016/j.bsbt.2017.02.002
Subject(s) - perception , materials science , tactile perception , surface finish , groove (engineering) , surface roughness , computer vision , texture (cosmology) , orientation (vector space) , computer science , mathematics , composite material , psychology , geometry , image (mathematics) , neuroscience , metallurgy
This study focused on active light touch with predefined textures specially-designed for tactile perception. The counter-body material is stainless steel sheet. Three geometric structures (grid, crater and groove) were fabricated by pulsed laser surface texturing. A total number of twenty volunteers participated in the research which contains two parts: perception tests and skin friction measurements. The perception tests focused mainly on the participants׳ perceptual attributes: perceived roughness and perceived stickiness. For the skin friction measurements, a multi-axis force/torque transducer was used to measure the normal force and friction force between skin and counter-surface along with the fingertip position. The results of the predefined textures showed the ability to reduce skin friction due to the reduction of contact area. Moreover, the participants׳ perceptual attributes were greatly influenced by the predefined micro-structures in the light touch regime