Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The aim of this project is to expand our means of interacting with electronic devices by creating three technologies: (1) transparent and stretchable touch-sensitive films that generate an electrical signal due to ion motion, (2) stretchable and transparent capacitive proximity sensors and (3) thin, bendable tactile feedback displays that are intended to provide localized vibration or textural feedback. These interfaces will be thin films, soft, flexible and conformable to virtually any surface. The university team are combining their expertise in polymer artificial muscle, rapid prototyping/alternative micro-fabrication, low-power electronics, signal processing and haptics with the low power electronics, mobile device and medical device know-how of the partner to create new approaches and possibilities in human-device interaction. On the sensing side we explore two new approaches both using soft but tough gel films as ionically conductive layers that are also stretchable and highly transparent. Tactile interfaces employ conducting polymer trilayer technology that is intended to enable perceptible displacements and forces to be generated. Advances in conducting polymer actuators over the past ten years have substantially improved performance, while modeling has enabled simulation and improved control. Thus we believe these actuators are ready for use in devices that can take advantage of their low voltage and high work to volume.