A new system lets robots sense human touch without artificial skin

MIT Technology Review August 21, 2024
James O'Donnell

It could help make interactions between robots and humans smoother and more intuitive.

Even the most capable robots aren’t great at sensing human touch; you typically need a computer science degree or at least a tablet to interact with them effectively. That may change, thanks to robots that can now sense and interpret touch without being covered in high-tech artificial skin. It’s a significant step toward robots that can interact more intuitively with humans.

To understand the new approach, led by the German Aerospace Center and published today in Science Robotics, consider the two distinct ways our own bodies sense touch. If you hold your left palm facing up and press lightly on your left pinky finger, you may...

Today's Sponsors

Today's Sponsor