Touch sense control of an air pillow driven by a piston-cylinder mechanism

We propose a design and control of an air pillow system (IAAP: Impedance Adjustable Air Pillow), in which users can independently adjust its height and tactile sensation. The IAAP consists of an air bag with a pressure sensor and a motor-driven piston-cylinder mechanism. Because the IAAP does not contain any mechanical sensors inside the air bag, by using only the air pressure and the piston position, we propose an impedance control method to set the target impedance (rigidity and viscosity) of the air bag. To evaluate the usability of our IAAP, some sensory evaluation tests were carried out on a group of subjects. As a result of the tests, we conclude the IAAP has a good practical potential as a high-performance pillow for comfortable sleep.