Pneumatic Haptic Interfaces

Haptic interfaces in the form of arrays of balloonlike pneumatic actuators are being developed to provide tactile feedback from (1) remote-manipulator hands, tools on the tips of robot arms, and other, similar devices to (2) the hands of human operators. Like other haptic interfaces, these have numerous potential applications in situations in which there are requirements to manipulate remote, very small, and possibly fragile objects with great dexterity and sensitivity. Haptic interfaces are especially valuable as components of robotic implementations of laparoscopic surgical tools, which are used to remotely cut, pull, and move various types of tissue, the degree of softness and hardness of which is difficult or impossible to judge in the absence of tactile feedback.