Sensors and actuators based on magnetic materials for haptic interfaces

Abstract

Haptic interfaces have attracted unprecedented interest and stand as a vital link between humans, computers, and robots for haptic information interaction. These interfaces rely on sensors and actuators to collect and output various haptic data, such as the coding of texture, roughness, vibration, shape, pressure, temperature or stiffness. Thus, tactile sensors and actuators based on different functional materials have been successively reported. Among electro-elastomer materials, thermoelectric materials, piezoelectric materials and magnetic materials, magnetic materials show new potential for the design of high-performance devices for haptic interfaces due to the rich coupling effects of magnetism with thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties, together with the excellent advantages of high adjustability, stability, wearability, rapid response time and low cost. In this perspective article, we provide an up-to-date overview of haptic interfaces utilizing magnetic materials. Firstly, the fundamental logical topology of haptic information interaction interfaces is introduced. Secondly, the coupling effects of magnetic materials for haptic device designs are described, and then, the structure and application of haptic sensors and actuators under different magnetic effects are summarized and discussed in categories. Finally, we delve into the developmental challenges faced, describe potential opportunities in this field, and summarize future directions for devices based on magnetic materials in haptic interfaces, aiming to summarize and enhance the collection of data available for the generation of future haptic systems.