UltraPower: Powering Tangible and Wearable Devices with Focused Ultrasound

Morales González, R., Marzo, A., Freeman, E. , Frier, W. and Georgiou, O. (2021) UltraPower: Powering Tangible and Wearable Devices with Focused Ultrasound. In: Fifteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI ’21), Salzburg, Austria, 14-17 Feb 2021, ISBN 9781450382137 (doi: 10.1145/3430524.3440620)

Abstract

Wireless power transfer creates new opportunities for interaction with tangible and wearable devices, by freeing designers from the constraints of an integrated power source. We explore the use of focused ultrasound as a means of transferring power to a distal device, transforming passive props into dynamic active objects. We analyse the ability to transfer power from an ultrasound array commonly used for mid-air haptic feedback and investigate the practical challenges of ultrasonic power transfer (e.g., receiving and rectifying energy from sound waves). We also explore the ability to power electronic components and multimodal actuators such as lights, speakers and motors. Finally, we describe exemplar wearable and tangible device prototypes that are activated by UltraPower, illustrating the potential applications of this novel technology.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: Orestis G. would also like to acknowledge funding from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project NEWSENs, No 787180. Asier M. has been funded by Government of Navarre (FEDER) 0011-1365-2019-000086.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Freeman, Dr Euan
• Authors: Morales González, R., Marzo, A., Freeman, E., Frier, W., and Georgiou, O.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• ISBN: 9781450382137
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).
• First Published: First published in n Fifteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI ’21), February 14–17, 2021, Salzburg, Austria
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
173692		Levitate	Stephen Brewster	European Commission (EC)	737087	Computing Science