In mid-air haptic feedback, which can convey tactile information without direct contact, laser-based methods can transmit high spatial resolution tactile information over long distances due to the favorable propagation characteristics of lasers in the air. However, the intensity of the tactile stimuli is highly limited due to energy loss during the conversion process from the laser’s optical energy to the mechanical energy of the tactile stimuli. This study proposes a haptic feedback method that leverages a phenomenon known as laser-induced cavitation, where shock waves are generated in a liquid, to output stronger tactile stimuli. In this method, a pouch-type device containing low-boiling-point liquid is attached to the skin, and tactile stimuli are transmitted to the skin via shock waves caused by bubble formation in the liquid when laser light is irradiated onto it. Low boiling-point liquids enable a more efficient conversion of laser energy into shock waves. This paper investigates the conversion of laser energy by measuring the intensity and temperature of the stimuli generated when a laser irradiates a pouch-type device.
Article:
1. M. Eguchi, R. Sakuma, T. Hiraki, “LaserHaptics: Mid-Air Haptic Feedback via Laser-Induced Cavitation using Low Boiling-Point Liquid”, IEEE WHC 2025 WiP, pp1–2 Jul, 2025(To appear).
2. 江口満国，佐久間亮太，平木剛史，”レーザー誘起キャビテーションを用いたパウチ型空中触覚提示デバイス，” 第25回計測自動制御学会，1A7-09, Dec. 2024.