Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks

George P Jenkinson; Andrew T Conn; Antonia Tzemanaki

doi:10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks

George P Jenkinson, Andrew T Conn, Antonia Tzemanaki

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

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Abstract

Visually impaired people who do not read Braille are excluded from engaging in situations where Braille options may suffice for their Braille-literate counterparts. Braille-tip is a compact soft tactile sensor (11mm diameter) which can be mounted on a standard pen and is designed to dynamically assist with reading and learning Braille. Fluid channels are used to transmit tactile information from 19 soft taxel membranes to a single camera. A Braille-tip prototype is fabricated using silicone elastomer and tubing. Its sensory response is calibrated to successfully detect 52 raised Braille dots on embossed cardboard, and its functionality is demonstrated by reading Braille aloud, with an 84.5% success rate when operated by hand. The compact size and dense layout of taxels over the sensor membrane means that it makes a good candidate for general high acuity, low-force tasks and demonstrates the possibility of incorporating it into items for everyday life.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Pages	1611-1616
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9798350386523
ISBN (Print)	9798350386530
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951
Publication status	Published - 23 Oct 2024
Event	IEEE RAS EMBS 10th International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics - Heidelberg, Germany Duration: 1 Sept 2024 → 4 Sept 2024 https://www.biorob2024.org/

Publication series

Name	IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)
Publisher	IEEE
ISSN (Print)	2155-1774
ISSN (Electronic)	2155-1782

Conference

Conference	IEEE RAS EMBS 10th International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics
Abbreviated title	BioRob 2024
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Heidelberg
Period	1/09/24 → 4/09/24
Internet address	https://www.biorob2024.org/

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 IEEE.

Keywords

Soft Robot Applications
Soft Sensors and Actuators
Dexterous Manipulation
Braille
Visually impaired
Tactile devices
Handheld device

Access to Document

10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

Full-text PDF (accepted manuscript)
This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM) of the article which has been made Open Access under the University of Bristol's Scholarly Works Policy. The final published version (Version of Record) can be found on the publisher's website. The copyright of any third-party content, such as images, remains with the copyright holder.
Accepted author manuscript, 3.86 MBLicence: CC BY

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Jenkinson, G. P., Conn, A. T., & Tzemanaki, A. (2024). Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks. In 2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob) (pp. 1611-1616). (IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). https://doi.org/10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

Jenkinson, George P ; Conn, Andrew T ; Tzemanaki, Antonia. / Braille-tip : Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks. 2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2024. pp. 1611-1616 (IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)).

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abstract = "Visually impaired people who do not read Braille are excluded from engaging in situations where Braille options may suffice for their Braille-literate counterparts. Braille-tip is a compact soft tactile sensor (11mm diameter) which can be mounted on a standard pen and is designed to dynamically assist with reading and learning Braille. Fluid channels are used to transmit tactile information from 19 soft taxel membranes to a single camera. A Braille-tip prototype is fabricated using silicone elastomer and tubing. Its sensory response is calibrated to successfully detect 52 raised Braille dots on embossed cardboard, and its functionality is demonstrated by reading Braille aloud, with an 84.5% success rate when operated by hand. The compact size and dense layout of taxels over the sensor membrane means that it makes a good candidate for general high acuity, low-force tasks and demonstrates the possibility of incorporating it into items for everyday life.",

keywords = "Soft Robot Applications, Soft Sensors and Actuators, Dexterous Manipulation, Braille, Visually impaired, Tactile devices, Handheld device",

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doi = "10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951",

language = "English",

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series = "IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)",

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Jenkinson, GP , Conn, AT & Tzemanaki, A 2024, Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks. in 2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob). IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), pp. 1611-1616, IEEE RAS EMBS 10th International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, Heidelberg, Germany, 1/09/24. https://doi.org/10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks. / Jenkinson, George P ; Conn, Andrew T ; Tzemanaki, Antonia.
2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2024. p. 1611-1616 (IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

TY - GEN

T1 - Braille-tip

T2 - IEEE RAS EMBS 10th International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics

AU - Jenkinson, George P

AU - Conn, Andrew T

AU - Tzemanaki, Antonia

PY - 2024/10/23

Y1 - 2024/10/23

N2 - Visually impaired people who do not read Braille are excluded from engaging in situations where Braille options may suffice for their Braille-literate counterparts. Braille-tip is a compact soft tactile sensor (11mm diameter) which can be mounted on a standard pen and is designed to dynamically assist with reading and learning Braille. Fluid channels are used to transmit tactile information from 19 soft taxel membranes to a single camera. A Braille-tip prototype is fabricated using silicone elastomer and tubing. Its sensory response is calibrated to successfully detect 52 raised Braille dots on embossed cardboard, and its functionality is demonstrated by reading Braille aloud, with an 84.5% success rate when operated by hand. The compact size and dense layout of taxels over the sensor membrane means that it makes a good candidate for general high acuity, low-force tasks and demonstrates the possibility of incorporating it into items for everyday life.

AB - Visually impaired people who do not read Braille are excluded from engaging in situations where Braille options may suffice for their Braille-literate counterparts. Braille-tip is a compact soft tactile sensor (11mm diameter) which can be mounted on a standard pen and is designed to dynamically assist with reading and learning Braille. Fluid channels are used to transmit tactile information from 19 soft taxel membranes to a single camera. A Braille-tip prototype is fabricated using silicone elastomer and tubing. Its sensory response is calibrated to successfully detect 52 raised Braille dots on embossed cardboard, and its functionality is demonstrated by reading Braille aloud, with an 84.5% success rate when operated by hand. The compact size and dense layout of taxels over the sensor membrane means that it makes a good candidate for general high acuity, low-force tasks and demonstrates the possibility of incorporating it into items for everyday life.

KW - Soft Robot Applications

KW - Soft Sensors and Actuators

KW - Dexterous Manipulation

KW - Braille

KW - Visually impaired

KW - Tactile devices

KW - Handheld device

UR - https://www.biorob2024.org/

U2 - 10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

DO - 10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

M3 - Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

SN - 9798350386530

T3 - IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)

SP - 1611

EP - 1616

BT - 2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Y2 - 1 September 2024 through 4 September 2024

ER -

Jenkinson GP , Conn AT , Tzemanaki A. Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks. In 2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 2024. p. 1611-1616. (IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob)). doi: 10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719951

Braille-tip: Structured Small-Footprint Tactile Sensor for High Acuity Dynamic Tactile Tasks

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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