The Tactile Contact Lens Enhancing Tactile Perception

Abstract

Here we show a touch-enhancing intermediate object that operates not only as a disturbance filter, but also, supposedly, as a magnifier of surface undulation. This object, which we named the ``tactile contact lens,'' is composed of a sheet and numerous spikes regularly arranged on one side of the sheet, having no electronic or mechatronic components. The most promising application of the tactile contact lens will be its use in inspection of sheet metals to detect small deflection defects and skill transfer in automobile factories.