Ph.D. student Michael Han has developed a new optoelectronic tactile sensor that enables robots to better emulate the grasping abilities of the human hand. The sensor, described in “Soft, All-Polymer Optoelectronic Tactile Sensor for Stick-Slip Detection,” combines a skin-like soft silicone material with a bristle friction model to provide not only normal force information, but also lateral force information generated by stick-slip processes.
This soft optical design allows the sensor to detect stick-slip events, a phenomenon that occurs when an object starts to slip out of a robot’s grasp. By detecting stick-slip events in real-time, the sensor can help a robotic gripper apply sufficient force to grasp objects without slipping. In addition, the sensor is capable of measuring normal forces up to 5 N, making it a versatile tool for robot grasping control.
The sensor is made entirely of polymer materials, making it soft and flexible like human skin. This allows it to easily conform to the shape of different objects, providing a more natural and accurate tactile sensing experience for robots. By enabling robots to more accurately sense and respond to their environment, we are one step closer to creating robots that can perform tasks with the same level of dexterity as humans. We continue to work on improving the sensor and exploring new applications for it in fields such as manufacturing, healthcare, and more.
