Investigation of Sensory Provision for Calf and Shin Using Fabric Actuator

Various haptic devices are attracting attention in many fields, and research and development on haptic devices using soft actuators are underway. We developed a fabric actuator that is flexible and freely deformable soft actuator. This actuator is expected to be used in haptic devices, and it was clarified the device can evoke Grasp, Pinch, Press, and Twist tactile at one actuator in the upper arm and forearm. We focus on the site extensibility of this actuator. In this paper, we verified what types of tactile sensations this actuator can evoke in the shin and calf via experiments with one experimenter as the subject. As a result, mainly three results were obtained: The first was the area where the tactile work was accurately answered. Second, the subject was confused about whether the pattern was Press or Grasp. Third, it was difficult to evoke Pinch tactile. After consideration, it was suggested that the method of attachment is important. In the future, we aim to achieve diverse tactile recall with the leg while investigating other causes.