Epidermal virtual reality devices

1. An actuation device, comprising:

a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface;

a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators; and

a wireless power system to power the actuators, wherein the wireless power system provides a power harvesting that is greater than or equal to 5 mW,

wherein the wireless controller is a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip having a plurality of outputs, with each output electronically connected to an individual actuator, wherein the actuation device further comprises a switch electronically positioned between the NFC chip output and the actuators to provide the individual actuator electrical energization at a switching frequency.

2. The actuation device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power system provides a power delivery of at least 5×10 −4 mW/cm 2 .

3. The actuation device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power system has a power efficiency defined as power delivered to power harvested that is greater than or equal to 50%.

4. The actuation device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor operably connected to the wireless controller and the wireless power system for sensing a physical parameter.

5. The actuation device of claim 1 , further comprising a large area antenna for the wireless power harvesting and powering of the actuators.

6. The actuation device of claim 5 , wherein the large area antenna has a length that is greater than or equal to 100 cm.

7. The actuation device of claim 5 , further comprising a small area antenna for powering the wireless controller.

8. The actuation device of claim 7 , wherein the small area antenna has an outer perimeter footprint that is less than or equal to 10 cm.

9. The actuation device of claim 8 , wherein the small area antenna comprises a coil.

10. The actuation device of claim 1 , wherein the actuators comprise a mechanical actuator, a thermal actuator, and/or an electrical actuator.

11. The actuation device of claim 1 , wherein the actuators comprise a mechanical actuator having a vibration frequency that is greater than or equal to 1 Hz and less than or equal to 1 kHz.

12. The actuation device of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical actuator comprises an electrically conductive coil and a magnet, wherein the magnet is positioned within a magnetic field generated by the electrically conductive coil during an applied electric potential to the electrically conductive coil.

13. The actuation device of claim 12 , wherein the electrically conductive coil and the magnet are separated by a gap.

14. The actuation device of claim 13 , further comprising a polymer layer having a recess, wherein the magnet is positioned in the recess and the electrically conductive coil is positioned below the magnet.

15. The actuation device of claim 14 , further comprising a switch controlled by the wireless controller for oscillating electrical energization of the electrically conductive coil between off and on states, thereby generating a controlled vibration frequency of the magnet.

16. The actuation device of claim 15 , wherein the magnet vibration frequency is between 100 Hz and 300 Hz.

17. The actuation device of claim 1 , wherein the actuators comprise a thermal actuator.

18. The actuation device of claim 17 , wherein the thermal actuator comprises a wire that heats under an applied electric current.

19. The actuation device of claim 1 , further comprising a low power electric circuit.

20. An actuation system comprising a plurality of the actuation devices of claim 1 .

21. The actuation system of claim 20 , wherein each of the actuation devices are in wireless communication with each other.

22. The actuation system of claim 21 , wherein the wireless communication comprises bidirectional communication.

23. The actuation system of claim 22 , wherein each actuation device further comprises a sensor for sensing a physical parameter, wherein the sensor is in electronic communication with the wireless controller so that a sensor output may be communicated to a different actuation device or an external controller.

24. The actuation system of claim 20 that is part of a virtual reality device.

25. An actuation device, comprising:

a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface;

a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators; and

a wireless power system to power the actuators, wherein the wireless power system provides a power harvesting that is greater than or equal to 5 mW,

wherein the actuator comprises a thermal actuator, wherein the thermal actuator comprises a wire that heats under an applied electric current, and is formed from a gold wire having a width of between 10 μm and 200 μm with a thermal heating area that is between 1 mm 2 and 50 mm 2 .

26. The actuation device of claim 25 , wherein the wireless controller comprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip.

27. The actuation device of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of spatially distributed actuators are distributed over a surface area that is greater than or equal to 1 m 2 .

28. The actuation device of claim 27 , wherein the actuators are provided on a flexible substrate.

29. The actuation device of claim 28 , comprising a plurality of individually interconnected flexible substrates, wherein each of the individual substrates support a plurality of actuators and are individually positionable over a desired skin area during use.

30. The actuation device of claim 28 , wherein the flexible substrate supports from between 4 to 500 actuators.

31. The actuation device of claim 28 , that provides a reversible interface with skin.

32. The actuation device of claim 28 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a fabric.

33. The actuation device of claim 32 , wherein the fabric is part of clothing.

34. The actuation device of claim 25 , further comprising a sensor in electronic communication with the wireless controller for measuring a physical parameter, wherein the sensor provides autonomous control of the actuators in a feedback loop.

35. An actuation device, comprising:

a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface;

a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators;

a wireless power system to power the actuators, wherein the wireless power system provides a power harvesting that is greater than or equal to 5 mW; and

a low power electric circuit, wherein the low power electric circuit comprises a single wireless controller that controls the plurality of spatially distributed actuators by electrically energizing a single individual actuator at a time with the other actuators in an off-state and cycling through all actuators; and

wherein the wireless controller is a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip having a plurality of outputs, with each output electronically connected to an individual actuator, the device further comprising a switch electronically positioned between the NFC chip output and the actuator to provide the individual actuator electrical energization at a switching frequency.

36. The actuation device of claim 35 , having a switching frequency between actuators that is faster than a mechanoreceptor reaction time for a mechanoreceptor that is positioned beneath the actuation device during use, so that a simultaneous actuation of all the plurality of actuators is experienced by a user to whom the actuation device interfaces.