Displaying Sense of Adhesion by Electro-Tactile Display

We experience a sense of adhesion when touching a lotion or adhesive tape with a finger and attempting to pull it off. This sense of adhesion is considered an important element of tactile sensation. However, previous methods for presenting this sensation have been limited, and most require relatively large devices. This study proposes a compact method for presenting a sense of adhesion using an electro-tactile display. The electrotactile display can be made wearable, and it allows flexible control over stimulation timing and area. We propose a method for evoking a sense of adhesion by delivering cutaneous electrical stimulation at the timing when a pulling force is generated between the finger and the adhesive object. Additionally, we investigated a method for reproducing changes in the contact area. Experimental results showed that electrical stimulation successfully induced a sense of adhesion when the finger was lifted from the adhesive surface. The results also suggest that stimulation timing contributes more to the perception of adhesion than changes in the stimulation area.