MULTIDIMENSIONAL TACTILE INPUT/OUTPUT UNIT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidimensional tactile input/output unit that behaves like argil and bears tactile impression like it. SOLUTION: This is a tactile input/output unit consists of particulate or powder matter and an elastic membrane that enwraps the particulate or the powder matter and a deformation counter part that counters a local deformation of the elastic membrane and an orientation sensor that measures an orientation in a 3 dimension space of whole span of unit. The deformation is measured by sensing a partial tensile force in a structure that bears tension structure or tensegrity structure, or angle alteration between members of tensegrity structure, or a local curvature of the elastic membrane. And changing friction coefficient or viscosity coefficient between particulate matters with electromagnetic action or thermal action varies hardness of the unit.