1. Skin-Attachable Haptic Interface 

• Collaboration with Sungkyunkwan Univ., ETRI, UT Dallas and Miami univ.

The market demands and innovation efforts call for a shift in the key VR/AR technologies and engaging people virtually. Tele-haptics with multimodal and bilateral interactions are emerging as the future of the VR/AR industry. By transmitting and receiving haptic sensations wirelessly, tele-haptics allow human-to-human interactions beyond the traditional VR/AR interactions. The core technologies for tele-haptics include multimodal tactile sensing and feedback based on highly advanced sensors and actuators. Recent developments of haptic innovations based on active materials show that active materials can significantly contribute to addressing the needs and challenges for the current and future VR/AR technologies. Accordingly, we are focusing on developing an advanced skin-attachable haptic interface platform based on smart materials such as Electroactive Polymer, Smart Fluid and PZT.

Tae-Heon Yang, Jin Ryong Kim, Hanbit Jin, Hyunjae Gil, Jeong-Hoi Koo, Hye Jin Kim, "Recent Advances and Opportunities of Active Materials for Haptic Technologies in Virtual and Augmented Reality", Advanced Functional Materials 2008831, 1-30 

2. Compact & Slim Tactile Devices  for VR/AR Haptic Glove Interface 

• Collaboration with KRISS, KAIST and Ajou Univ.

In order to provide a sense of reality and immersive tactile feedback in a metaverse environment, we are developing an array-type tactile presentation device that can provide sophisticated tactile sensations to the palm and fingertips.