A classic research paradigm for several types of behavioral and neurophysiological experimentation requires a precise vibratactile stimulus.  For example, experiments that study attention in the brain call for discrimination between sequential stimuli of at different frequencies.  Because humans and other primates are extremely sensitive to some vibrations, the stimuli must be low in distortion (harmonic or otherwise) at frequencies from 10 to 300 Hz and amplitudes from 1 to 100 microns.

BME Systems designed the Vibratactile Simulator using a suspension-less linear motor used in aerospace applications and a custom-built, high-gain, class A controller to achieve a high load force stiffness (29 kg / mm), a sub-micron noise floor and unmatched fidelity of motion.  The motor is powerful enough to carry an in-line primary force sensor that enables precise and reproducible application of stimuli over subjects and time.