WHC 7: vibrating duet

posted Apr 9th 2007, 21:06 under tactile, vibration, WHC

This week's new Hardware Challenge is very simple. It took only about an hour or so to build. It consists of a cardboard box with two vibrating motors. It is a revisit of the failed penta-vibrating grip (WHC 2). This time, I tried to isolate the vibrating units from each others and minimize their mechanical link to the box/supporting structure. The only thing that keep them together is a thin layer of foam on glued on top.

You know what, it works! It is a very crude experiment/setup but you actually feel if the vibration is coming from the left or the right unit. I have to say that I very happy to have a minimal proof of concept for this idea. It's been puzzling me for months and now I know that vibration can be discerned across the hand. I will definitely move further with this in coming weeks.

Mounting two vibrating motor

Mounting two vibrating motor. Foam block as a cover for rought testing. Not very successful.

A small cardboard box as receptacle

We need to isolate the two units. A small cardboard box is used as a support receptacle.

Vibrating nodes are mechanically isolated

Now each vibrating node is mechanically isolated.

Vibrating motors are upside down

Vibrating motors are upside down. They are linked together with only the outer layer of thin foam.

Final setup after one hour

Final setup after one hour. Buttons to activate the nodes.

A small cardboard box as receptacle

Testing successful! We can identify which note is vibrating.