VibroTac

VibroTac is a novel haptic device in the form of a bracelet that generates vibrotactile feedback to transmit various information to its user. It makes use of the haptic channel instead of the visual or auditory channel, thus it is predestined for blind or deaf persons and for the use in loud environments as well as in situations where visual and auditory channels are overcharged.

The VibroTac was presented to the public in 2010 and licensed to SENSODRIVE in 2011.

Specifications

System description

With six vibration segments, distributed around the arm in equal distances, VibroTac generates tactile stimuli that are separately and continuously adjustable in frequency and shape. Hence, various kinds of information such as direction, distance or collision feedback can be displayed to the user in an unobtrusive way. Due to the patented ergonomic concept, the device can be worn on a wide range of arm diameters while battery power and wireless control contribute to unrestricted movement capability and user convenience.

VibroTac can

• feed back collisions and information from Virtual Reality Simulations or Telerobotic Systems to the human
• give directional hints for navigation tasks
• guide arm movements
• direct attention e.g. for Air Traffic Control Environments
• support blind persons as a technical aid.

Ongoing research focuses on the application dependent optimization of stimuli pattern as well as on different Human Factors aspects. VibroTac has been developed at the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics and is now sold under license by SENSODRIVE.