Alternative Tactile Display Using Granular Jamming

General Tactile: Leon Cao, Niraj Patel, Paul Dao, Kevin Truong (Project Group 33)
Mentor: Mark Baldwin (via Professor Gillian Hayes)

Objective: Produce an alternative tactile display using concepts from granular jamming. Granular jamming has mainly been used in robotics as a mechanism for grabbing objects of many shapes and forms, but this device seeks to leverage the same concept to create a tactile display that can dynamically refresh to communicate visual information such as pictures and graphics to visually impaired individuals.

More information may be found in Professor Hayes’ post.

As the first step, we plan to create a small proof-of-concept using an XY stage and a retractable trackball as a means for controlling the granular material sealed in a silicone bag. Eventually, we plan to scale up the design into a full-sized display for the purpose of a user study.

Click here to go to the project group page on Canvas. Access to the project group page may be restricted.

Updates will be posted as we progress.

2/25/2017 Update: We have been making good progress since the last update. Because the proof of concept for the granular display itself has been done, we switched our focus to the implementation of an XY platform for automating the display imprint process.

The XY platform design is based on the C-Bot from OpenBuilds. For its implementation in our project, we replaced the print head with a trackball on the carriage. This trackball would be raised against a pin grid stationed directly below the granular display to create a contour of raised surfaces.

Overview of the XY platform

Side view of the XY platform

Closer look at the imprint trackball

In the last few weeks before the Winter Design Review, we will integrate the granular display and this XY platform into a complete product. Look for us at the Design Review!
--Leon

11/7/2016 Update: Affordability and DIY-ability are very important, so the necessary materials must be cheap and easy to acquire. Realizing that, we opt to use a 3D printer (available in makerspaces) for our structural components and silicone caulk ($5 from hardware stores) for our silicone sheets.

3D printed structural component

Uncured silicone sheet

We have completed a major milestone: A fully functional, manually-operated display prototype. The word "HI" can be seen imprinted in the display below.

Say "Hello world," prototype!

For the next major milestone, we plan to complete the final prototype with every important parameter, such as grid sizing and grain amount, finalized. Until then, look for us at the Fall Design Review!
--Leon