Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• The breeze-sense generators generate significant air flow pressure output of ~163 Pa that can easily be sensed by human skin and have an overall thickness around 1 mm. • Volunteers successfully identify multiple programming patterns transmitted by the generators array. • A wearable breeze-sense feedback system effectively provides the continuous or sudden breeze senses in virtual reality environments. • The thin and flexible design enables seamless integration with wearable VR setups, enhancing user immersion.
Abstract
In the realm of virtual reality (VR), haptic feedback is integral to enhance the immersive experience; yet, existing wearable devices predominantly rely on skin contact feedback, lacking options for compact and non-contact breeze-sense feedback. Herein, we propose a compact and non-contact working model piezoelectret actuator for providing a gentle and safe breeze sensation. This easy-fabricated and flexible breeze-sense generator with thickness around 1 mm generates air flow pressure up to ~163 Pa, which is significantly sensed by human skin. In a typical demonstration, the breeze-sense generators array showcases its versatility by employing multiple coded modes for non-contact information transmitting. The thin thinness and good flexibility facilitate seamless integration with wearable VR setups, and the wearable arrays empower volunteers to precisely perceive the continuous and sudden breeze senses in the virtual environments. This work is expected to inspire developing new haptic feedback devices that play pivotal roles in human–machine interfaces for VR applications.
1. Introduction
In recent years, human–machine interfaces (HMIs) have become integral windows facilitating communication between humans and the digital world, particularly in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) [1–4]. The utilization of flexible sensors with exceptional performances has been widespread for monitoring signals from the human body and the external environments [5–14]. Concurrently, the advanced information feedback interfaces, such as AR/VR glasses for delivering visual and auditory information, have played crucial roles in realizing closed-loop HMIs [15, 16]. Furthermore, the skin, as the largest sensory organ, has emerged as the preferred platform for embedding feedback interfaces in HMIs [17, 18].
Previous efforts have devised numerous skin-based HMIs incorporating haptic feedback, significantly enhancing the user experience. This has led to a heightened demand for diverse feedback experiences in AR/VR [19–21]. In specific, researchers focus on developing wearable devices that can provide multiple haptic feedback sensations and more realistic effects [22]. In the pursuit of user immersion in HMIs, attributes such as thinness, lightweight construction, and ergonomic wearability have become paramount. Recently, the majority of wearable feedback devices combined in VR mostly demand skin contact. Typically, these skin-contacting haptic feedback devices include the following methods: electromagnetic technology [23, 24, 37], shape memory alloys [25], piezoelectric devices [26, 27], piezoelectret devices [28–30], dielectric elastomers [31, 32], and pneumatically actuated polymer structures [33, 34]. Combing with other senses feedback, good experiences are provided for users in VR scenarios. For instance, Yu et al. integrated visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory senses with AR/VR to provide users with a multisensory experience [35–38]. Lee et al. employed vibration and Joule heat to enhance realism in the metaverse [39].
However, as users demand deeper immersion when using VR, skin comfort has become new demands for wearable feedback devices. Therefore, researchers try to develop non-contact feedback devices [40, 41]. These non-contact feedback devices achieve a more comfortable and safer experience for users. For example, ultrasonic feedback devices allow users to feel objects in VR without touching devices [40]. Another possible source of non-contact haptic stimulus is air flow. In fact, the breeze-sense is a very common tactile sensation in daily life, and the integration of a non-contact breeze-sense feedback device into a wearable HMI system is a valuable addition to current haptic feedback technology. Previously, electric fans, pneumatic actuation, and piezoelectric fans are used, so that users can feel the wind in the virtual sceneries [42–46]. This indicates that non-contact breeze-sense feedback in the VR environments is an effective way to increase the user’s immersive experience. Nevertheless, these devices are usually not available as wearable feedback devices because of their large weight, hardness, and volume. Consequently, there is still a lack of a breeze-sense generator that is compact, safe, and
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Kaijun Zhang, Zhe Liu, Yexi Zhou, Zhaoyang Li, Dazhe Zhao, Xiao Guan, Tianjun Lan, Yanting Gong, Bingpu Zhou, Junwen Zhong (2025). Thin and Flexible Breeze-Sense Generators for Non-Contact Haptic Feedback in Virtual Reality. Nano-Micro Letters. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01670-y
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main innovation of this paper?
The paper introduces a thin and flexible breeze-sense generator based on a piezoelectret actuator that provides non-contact haptic feedback for virtual reality, achieving a thickness of about 1 mm and an air flow pressure of ~163 Pa.
How does the breeze-sense generator work?
The generator uses a piezoelectret actuator to produce air flow pressure that can be sensed by human skin without direct contact, enabling non-contact haptic feedback.
What are the key advantages of this device?
The device is compact, flexible, and lightweight, making it suitable for wearable VR setups. It provides a gentle and safe breeze sensation, and can transmit information through multiple coded modes.
What applications does this technology have?
It can be integrated into virtual reality environments to provide continuous or sudden breeze senses, enhancing the immersive experience. It also has potential in human-machine interfaces for non-contact information transmission.
What is the significance of the air flow pressure of ~163 Pa?
The air flow pressure of ~163 Pa is significantly above the threshold for human skin sensation, ensuring that users can clearly perceive the breeze feedback.
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