Flexible cellulose acetate/graphene blueprints for vibrotactile actuator

Abstract

Tactile devices containing many actuators within are being sutured using electroactive polymers. This innovation forms the basis of hand-like tactile feedback in emerging smart robotic manipulation. Here, we introduce low power consuming modified reduced graphene oxide embedded cellulose acetate composite of high flexibility and conformability to surfaces made by simple and low cost synthesis methods, which thus points towards simple read-out electronics. The material performance was evaluated based on various actuation conditions in terms of electrical potential, bias voltage, temperature and frequency. The actuator vibrating at various frequencies with faster response time illustrates a range of haptic feedbacks to users, which can be used in braille display devices. Excellent repeatability of the haptic actuation process was also noticed.