Undergrad Research Project Develops Haptics to Assist the Visually Impaired
By Bethany Bump
ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2025) — Rohan Patrick Jr. has always been interested in computers and technology, and knew he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to innovate in these areas.
That’s why the UAlbany senior was excited to participate in the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). The 10-week program provides young scientists and engineers with opportunities to conduct hands-on research under the guidance of UAlbany faculty mentors to solve real-world problems.
Working with Aishwari Talhan, a senior research scientist in the Division for Research & Economic Development and affiliated faculty in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Patrick was able to develop a vest this summer that provides navigation assistance to the visually impaired using a mix of camera vision, machine learning and haptic technology that sends vibrations to the user.
“I’ve always had a real drive to innovate, invent and think of cool ideas,” said Patrick, who is majoring in electrical & computer engineering. “So this was really a good program for me to get into and that’s why I’m really happy to be here.”
Patrick was one of a handful of students whose summer research focused on haptics, or the science of touch. Throughout the 10-week program, students developed haptic devices that can assist individuals with disabilities, better train surgical students, and enhance social and emotional connections.
What is Haptics?
Haptics refers to the sense of touch, encompassing both tactile and kinesthetic information that enables people to perceive and interact with objects in their environment. When incorporated into technology, haptics produces sensations — often through forces, vibrations and other feedback — to enhance the user experience.
Initially used in the aviation industry to provide pilots with pre-stall warnings through natural control vibrations, it eventually spread across industries and is now used in everything from video game controllers, mobile phones, steering wheels, medicine, dentistry and virtual reality.
“Ours is the only lab at UAlbany focused on haptics technology in a more innovative way to enhance the user experience,” Talhan said, referring to the Immersion Lab where she, as founder and principal investigator, supervises UAlbany researchers in developing haptics technologies for immersive experiences.
Over the summer, SURP students worked with Talhan to develop a range of haptic wearable devices she had specifically tailored problems for them to work on using haptics and artificial intelligence technologies. They presented their findings at two poster sessions held Aug. 7 in the Albany NanoTech Complex and Aug. 8 in ETEC.
“The program allows young students to explore completely new areas of science and engineering,” said Robert Brainard, professor of nanochemistry and chair of the SURP committee. “Unlike laboratory classes, these research projects allow students to explore new areas of science and engineering where no one knows the answers — even their faculty mentors.”
In addition to gaining valuable research experience, students developed important communication skills throughout the 10-week program by presenting their research to non-experts at a midway point through the summer, as well as at final poster sessions in August.
“This skill will help them in many ways in their life, specifically job interviews and working in interdisciplinary teams in their professional work life,” Brainard said. “Ultimately, each SURP student creates a technical story that they can tell in their next steps in their career, including job interviews and interviews for graduate school.”