Publication/Creation Date

March 16 2020

Creators/Contributors

Fabio Bergamin (creator)
Raffaello D’Andrea (contributor)
Carlo Sferrazza (contributor)

Description

Robotics researchers at ETH Zurich have now developed a tactile sensor that could come in handy in just such an instance – and marks what they see as a significant step towards “robotic skin”. The sensor’s extremely simple design makes it inexpensive to produce, as the engineers point out. Essentially, it consists of an elastic silicone “skin” with coloured plastic microbeads and a regular camera affixed to the underside.

These sensors could also be integrated into wearables for sports or provide tactile feedback for virtual reality games.

Augments

Gripping, Grasping, Holding, Feeling, Working

Technology Keywords

Robotics, Robotic Arm, Robotic Skin, Cameras, Tactile Sensors, Pressure Sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Virtual Reality (VR)

Keywords

Touch, Work, Manufacturing, Fitness, Research, Prototypes

Source

https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2020/03/allowing-robots-to-feel.html