VSTaI: Design and Characterization of Variable-Stiffness Tactile Interfaces Based on 3D-Printed Structured Fabrics

arXiv:2607.29102v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Realistic palpation training requires reliable rendering of soft tissue stiffness changes in real time, which is difficult to achieve with conventional simulators. This paper presents a compact, variable-stiffness tactile interface (VSTaI) based on vacuum-induced jamming of 3D-printed structured fabrics. A vacuum-sealed fabric layer is sandwiched between two silicone layers, and stiffness is tuned by regulating internal pressure. Four fabric patter...