Editor’s Choice
Capacitive tactile sensors have emerged as a leading solution, off ering
Can robots really Feel?
The future of touch in AI-powered
By Ruixiang Deng, Yang Hu, Haozheng Bai and Wuqiang Yang, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester
T
he rapid advancement of intelligent robotics has driven the need for more sophisticated sensor systems, enabling machines to interact with their environment much like humans. While vision and auditory sensors have seen signifi cant progress, tactile sensing remains an area of active research. Human hands instinctively
adjust their grip based on texture, shape and hardness; an ability robots struggle to replicate. Traditional robotic systems mainly rely on visual feedback, which limits their ability to detect subtle force variations, making tasks like assembling delicate electronics or handling fragile objects challenging.
10 May 2025
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
high sensitivity, fl exibility and the ability to measure both static and dynamic forces. T ese sensors operate by detecting capacitance changes when pressure alters the distance between two conductive plates. Compared to piezoresistive and piezoelectric sensors, capacitive sensors provide more reliable force measurements with greater precision and adaptability across diff erent materials. Advances in fl exible electronics have further improved their integration into robotic hands, prosthetics and wearable devices. Multi-layered designs now allow for three- dimensional (3D) force vector detection, helping robots analyse force distribution and refi ne their grasping strategies. At the AI-Tactile Joint Laboratory at T e University of Manchester,
in collaboration with Beijing Tashan Technology Co., Ltd., we are developing next-generation capacitive tactile sensors for robotic applications. Our research focuses on enhancing 3D force detection, improving sensor sensitivity, and expanding their detection range. By integrating multi-axis force sensing technology, our sensors enable
robots to dynamically adjust grip strength and direction, enhancing dexterity in complex tasks. Additionally, machine learning-based data analysis and advanced
fabrication techniques are being leveraged to optimise sensor performance, driving robotics toward more precise and adaptive interactions. To enable robots to achieve precise and stable grasping while sensing
and adapting to diff erent materials, grippers need to be equipped with high-precision tactile sensors. So, how can we design sensors capable of measuring three-dimensional forces? How can real-time communication be achieved and integrated into robotic systems? And how can sensor data processing be optimised to allow robots to quickly adjust their grasping strategy?
Sensor design and surface structure T e capacitive tactile sensor features a concentric ridge design, enhancing force sensing precision, grip stability and friction while maintaining fl exibility. T is specialised surface optimises force distribution and detects micro-deformations, making the sensor highly responsive to diff erent pressure levels and sliding interactions. It incorporates multiple functional layers, including a circuit board,
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