Wearable Sensor for Contactless Physical Assessment

Touchless sensor that allows a user to feel an object without touching it.

Virtual reality (VR) technologies simulate environments that allow users to sense virtual objects and experiences. VR systems digitally immerse users through simulated sensations delivered through head-mounted displays, gloves, suits, and other wearable devices. Compared to sight, hearing, and smell, touch-based sensing is harder to replicate virtually because the hand’s sensory and motor nerves are more complex than other body parts. 

Researchers at the Transportation Security Administration pursued this challenge with a design for a Wearable Sensor for Contactless Physical Assessment (WSCPA), a technology that would allow a user to feel an object without touching it. The innovation uses touchless sensors to register the object’s contours and generate feedback to physically replicate the target object, enabling physical sensation and assessment without direct contact. The subject technology can minimize potential harm when touching unsafe objects, preserve individual privacy during a security screening, or safely provide physical awareness for visually-impaired individuals.