Novel Haptic Electronic Yarn for Wearable Textiles: Vibrotactile Feedback via Knitted Channels for Skin-Based Communication.
4 affiliations
- 1Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
- 2University of California, Davis, CA USA.
- 3University College London, Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, United Kingdom.
- 4Nottingham Trent University, School of Engineering, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Nottingham United Kingdom.
Abstract
This work introduces a novel electronic yarn (E-yarn) capable of delivering controlled vibrotactile feedback, offering a seamless haptic integration technique into wearable textiles. By embedding miniature vibrotactile motors at the yarn level and employing robust encapsulation techniques, the design ensures durability and compatibility with everyday wear. Prototypes, including a knitted glove incorporating these haptic E-yarns, demonstrated sustained functionality over 20 wash cycles with minimal resistance change (< 1%), and first signs of failure at cycle 23. Performance evaluation using a custom test rig revealed strong correlations between compression forces and vibrotactile output, with frequency and amplitude influenced by textile structure and dynamic loading. Haptic E-yarns achieved an average vibration of 282.6 ± 33.4 Hz at 0.34 ± 0.2 ms-2, with only 1-5% frequency variation and up to 40% amplitude increase post-integration to wearables. This technology enables reliable haptic feedback within textiles, paving the way for future applications in assistive communication and interactive wearables.
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BibTeX
@article{ehelagasthenna2026novel,
title = {{Novel Haptic Electronic Yarn for Wearable Textiles: Vibrotactile Feedback via Knitted Channels for Skin-Based Communication.}},
author = {Malindu Ehelagasthenna and Arash Moghaddassian Shahidi and Pasindu Lugoda and Parvin Ebrahimi and Carlos Oliveira and Dominic Eberl-Craske and William Hurley and Tilak Dias and Theodore Hughes-Riley},
journal = {Npj flexible electronics},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41528-026-00613-w},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42952655},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Novel Haptic Electronic Yarn for Wearable Textiles: Vibrotactile Feedback via Knitted Channels for Skin-Based Communication.
AU - Malindu Ehelagasthenna
AU - Arash Moghaddassian Shahidi
AU - Pasindu Lugoda
AU - Parvin Ebrahimi
AU - Carlos Oliveira
AU - Dominic Eberl-Craske
AU - William Hurley
AU - Tilak Dias
AU - Theodore Hughes-Riley
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/04
JO - Npj flexible electronics
DO - 10.1038/s41528-026-00613-w
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42952655
AB - This work introduces a novel electronic yarn (E-yarn) capable of delivering controlled vibrotactile feedback, offering a seamless haptic integration technique into wearable textiles. By embedding miniature vibrotactile motors at the yarn level and employing robust encapsulation techniques, the design ensures durability and compatibility with everyday wear. Prototypes, including a knitted glove incorporating these haptic E-yarns, demonstrated sustained functionality over 20 wash cycles with minimal resistance change (< 1%), and first signs of failure at cycle 23. Performance evaluation using a custom test rig revealed strong correlations between compression forces and vibrotactile output, with frequency and amplitude influenced by textile structure and dynamic loading. Haptic E-yarns achieved an average vibration of 282.6 ± 33.4 Hz at 0.34 ± 0.2 ms-2, with only 1-5% frequency variation and up to 40% amplitude increase post-integration to wearables. This technology enables reliable haptic feedback within textiles, paving the way for future applications in assistive communication and interactive wearables.
SN - 2397-4621
ER -