A Quantitative Identification of “Moist Feeling” by High-Resolution Tactile Sensor Devices

In this paper, we report on a method for measuring and quantitatively evaluating “Moist Feeling,” which is said to be one of the most important and complex tactile senses, using a high-resolution tactile sensor. We have focused on the adsorption friction characteristics of materials and have succeeded in identifying presence of “Moist” based on the characteristic behavior of the friction coefficient at low loads. In this paper, we have established an evaluation method for “Moist Feeling” and worked on quantification of “Moist Feeling” by using this evaluation method for two types of materials: one with moisture added and the other without moisture added, which changes the feel to the touch. This is an example of previously unknown knowledge about the “Moist Feeling”, and the MEMS tactile sensor and evaluation method in this study will bring us much closer to the realization of the quantification of the “Moist Feeling”.