Highly Perceivable Tactile Feedback by Magnetic Shape Memory Technology

We present a lateral vibrotactile haptic feedback device based on magnetic shape memory (MSM) technology. The device consists of two MSM actuators combined in a push-push scheme, with a moving aluminum plate in between. Inherent features of MSM provide fast, few milliseconds - range response, combined with high-force output, resulting in accelerations of 5g and more. The device demonstrated a perceivable feedback from ~5 micrometer up to ~0.8 mm displacement of the moving plate touched by a bare finger. The used design allows almost independent control of the amplitude and frequency up to 110 Hz, which is shown using various stimuli patterns. Psychophysical tests were conducted for threshold and pattern recognition, revealing highly perceivable haptic feedback with rates of 83-100%. The reported results demonstrate a high potential of the MSM technology to generate complex vibrotactile stimulations in both haptics research and application fields.