A stretchable pressure sensor can provide highly sensitive and strain-unperturbed measurement to pressures on deformed skins.

We propose, engineer, and study a novel method to augment the feeling of breathing—enabling interactive applications to let users feel like they are inhaling more/less air (perceived nasal airflow). We achieve this effect by cooling or heating the nose in sync with the user’s inhalation. Our illusion builds on the physiology of breathing: we perceive our breath predominantly through the cooling of our nasal cavities during inhalation. This is why breathing in a “fresh” cold environment feels easier than in a “stuffy” hot environment, even when the inhaled volume is the same. Our psychophysical study confirmed that our in-nose temperature stimulation significantly influenced breathing perception in both directions: making it feel harder & easier to breathe. Further, we found that Math 1 of the trials were described as a change in perceived airflow/breathing, while only Math 2 as temperature. Following, we engineered a compact device worn across the septum that uses Peltier elements. We illustrate the potential of this augmented breathing in interactive contexts, such as for virtual reality (e.g., rendering ease of breathing crisp air or difficulty breathing with a deteriorated gas mask) and everyday interactions (e.g., in combination with a relaxation application or to alleviate the perceived breathing resistance when wearing a mask).

We present a miniature haptic module based on electrorheological fluid, designed for conveying combined stiffness and vibrotactile sensations at a small scale. Haptic feedback is produced through electrorheological fluid’s controllable resistive force and varies with the actuator’s deformation. To demonstrate the proposed actuator’s feedback in realistic applications, a method for measuring the actuator’s deformation must be implemented for active control. To this end, in this study, we incorporate a sensor design based on a bend-sensitive resistive film to the ER haptic actuator. The combined actuator and sensor module was tested for its ability to simultaneously actuate and sense the actuator’s state under indentation. The results show that the bend sensor can accurately track the actuator’s displacement over its stroke. Thus, the proposed sensor may enable control of the output resistive force according to displacement, which may lead to more informed and engaging combined kinesthetic and tactile feedback.

Users often 3D model enclosures that interact with significant heat sources, such as electronics or appliances that generate heat (e.g., CPU, motor, lamps, etc.). While parts made by users might function well aesthetically or structurally, they are rarely thermally-sound. This happens because heat transfer is non-intuitive; thus, engineering thermal solutions is not straightforward. To tackle this, we developed ThermalRouter, a CAD plugin that assists with improving the thermal performance of their models. ThermalRouter automatically converts regions of the model to be made from thermally-conductive materials (such as nylon or metallic-silicone). These regions act as heat channels, branching away from hotspots to dissipate heat. The key is that ThermalRouter automatically simulates the thermal performance of many possible heat channel configurations and presents the user with the most thermally-sound design (e.g., lowest temperature). Furthermore, it allows users to customize by balancing costs, indicating non-modifiable geometry, etc. Most importantly, ThermalRouter achieves this without requiring manual labor to set up or parse the results of complex thermal simulations.