Tactile Stimulator

The Controlled Dynamic Tactile Stimulator is an instrument that applies tactile patterns to the skin surface of test subjects.  Using force transducers and Hall effect sensors, the stimulator has the ability to sense the dynamics of the skin and adjust its application parameters.  Eight stimulator patterns (contactors) are held in a rotary magazine and can be individually selected and advanced against the skin surface.  Selection order for contactors can be preset or randomized.  Contactor application speed, force orientation, and/or depth of penetration of the contactor are dynamically measured during application.  This project was built in collaboration with the electronics shop at Indiana University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.