PhD defense Yang Liu: Changing Pneumatic Interfaces for Emotion and Trust in Human–Computer Interaction
Télécom Paris, 19 place Marguerite Perey F-91120 Palaiseau [getting there], amphi 2 and in videoconferencing
Jury
- Mr. Thomas Pietrzak, Professor, University of Lille, France — Reviewer
- Mr. Mehdi Ammi, Professor, Université Paris 8 Vincennes – Saint-Denis — Reviewer
- Ms. Céline Coutrix, Research Director CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes — Examiner
- Mr. Eric Lecolinet, Professor, Télécom Paris — Thesis Director
- Ms. Françoise Détienne, Research Director CNRS, Télécom Paris — co-supervisor, invited Member
- Mr. Stéphane Safin, Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles — co-supervisor, invited Member
Abstract
This dissertation investigates how silicone-based pneumatic haptic interfaces can enrich emotional engagement, trust, and non-verbal communication across three domains—cinematic experiences, automated driving, and human-robot interaction. Positioned at the intersection of affective computing and human-computer interaction, the work examines how bio-inspired, dynamically shape-changing haptic feedback can align tactile cues with contextual emotions, situational awareness, and physiological rhythms.
In cinematic emotion enhancement, pneumatic textures and inflation rhythms—drawing inspiration from sea urchin spines and cat paw pads—were used to modulate valence and arousal. Experiments show that congruent haptic cues significantly intensify emotional immersion, whereas non-congruent cues disrupt alignment, demonstrating the importance of context-aware tactile design.
The second project applies pneumatic haptics to Level 3 automated driving, developing a bio-inspired “Silicone Air Sac” interface for Takeover Requests. Compared with vibrotactile alerts, pneumatic cues reduce stress and promote smoother transitions, though directional ambiguity highlights the need for hybrid systems that balance urgency with comfort.
The final project explores non-verbal human-robot interaction through physiologically-inspired haptics mimicking breathing and heartbeat. Integrated into a robot’s chest, these cues significantly improve emotion-recognition accuracy—particularly for low-arousal states—and were perceived by users as intimate and lifelike.
Together, these studies establish pneumatic haptics as an expressive, biomimetic medium capable of shaping affect, cognition, and trust.