Wireless Electrotactile System with Hydrogel‐Based Electrodes for Conformal Tactile Interaction
A wireless epidermal electrotactile interface is demonstrated through integration of skin-conformal electrodes and flexible circuitry, addressing existing limitations in haptic technology caused by mechanical mismatch and system-level integration challenges. This electrotactile system achieves low stimulation thresholds (<20 V) through optimized electrode-skin modulus matching and improved electrochemical interfaces, enabling pain-free tactile sensation generation across finger pads. The millimeter-scale architecture incorporates multiplexed stimulation channels that spatially map to ISO-standard Braille configurations, demonstrating 91.90% alphanumeric recognition accuracy in human trials. Additionally, the system's movement control capabilities are demonstrated for visually impaired users navigating complex environments, enhancing their independence and interaction in daily activities.
Authors
- Yuhua Xue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6117-1132)
- Kuanming Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8744-8892)
- Yi-Chen Lan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6177-9631)
- Ji Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7171-405X)
- Peng Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2217-8486)
Institutions
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Southern University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University (CN)
- Samueli Institute (US)
- Jiangxi Normal University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small Methods
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202501142
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.67
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality