Iranian Researchers Produce Haptic-Feedback Smart Glove as Creative Human-Machine Interface

“The lack of compatibility of existing  Human-Machine Interface (HMI) with a wide range of platforms prevents their broad use [in Iran.] Apart from that, the lack of technical support and warranty of these products, the high cost of repairs and the lack of spare parts also causes more problems for Iranian users,” Parinaz Saifuldini, a PhD student who is studing Nanoelectronics at the University of Tehran said.

She further pointed out that because of very high price of smart gloves, Iranian users cannot afford them and that’s why do not widely use the glove in the country.

The UT researcher continued to say that by reducing the production cost of smart gloves through using low-price raw materials and optimizing the production process, they could become more economical for the Iranian users.

“These sensors are considered a significant innovation in this project due to the simplicity of construction, low cost and the capability to detect a wide range of movements and forces. The lack of a similar equivalent inside the country indicates the innovative nature of this project and the need for extensive research,” said Saofuldini, who has been the executive director of the project to produce the smart gloves. 

She went on to say that choosing the right materials for making gloves, considering the required mechanical, electrical and chemical properties, is a complicated challenge. It requires paying attention to factors such as flexibility, wear resistance and material cost.

“Initial tests have been successfully completed and the product is at TRL4. Optimizing the reading circuit and accurate transmission of the output signal, designing the glove in conformity with the standards of smart gloves and hand ergonomics, implementing the appropriate algorithm, adding more sensors on different joints of the hand for better detection of hand movement, and also using wireless communication (for example, based on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) for optimal communication between the glove and the device are the structural indicators of this product,” the UT researcher continued to underscore.

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