Researchers from Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with experts from China and the USA, have achieved a significant milestone in robotics by developing the L3 F-TOUCH wireless sensor. This innovative sensor enhances robots’ tactile capabilities, enabling them to “feel” objects and adjust their grip with greater precision. The study, published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, introduces a lightweight, low-cost, and wireless sensor that revolutionizes force sensing in robots, paving the way for more advanced and reliable robotics in the future.
For years, achieving human-level dexterity in manipulation and grasping has been a primary objective in robotics. To accomplish this, a reliable sense of tactile information and force is crucial for robots. However, many current robot hands and graspers lack integrated haptic capabilities, making handling objects challenging. Without the ability to gauge interaction forces and the shape of objects, robots lack a “sense of touch,” leading to issues such as objects slipping from their grip or accidentally crushing fragile items.
Introducing the L3 F-TOUCH Wireless Sensor
Led by Professor Kaspar Althoefer, the team from Queen Mary University of London presents the L3 F-TOUCH, a high-resolution fingertip sensor. The acronym L3 stands for Lightweight, Low-cost, and wireLess communication. This novel sensor can accurately measure an object’s geometry and determine the necessary forces to interact with it effectively. Unlike other sensors that estimate interaction forces through camera images of soft elastomer deformation, the L3 F-TOUCH measures interaction forces directly, resulting in significantly higher measurement accuracy.
How the L3 F-TOUCH works
The L3 F-TOUCH utilizes a compact suspension structure that allows the elastomer, a rubber-like material, to deform upon contact with a surface. The deformation provides high-resolution contact geometry data when exposed to external forces. To interpret this data, the sensor tracks the movement of a special marker called an ARTag, enabling precise measurement of contact forces along the three major axes (x, y, and z) through a calibration process.
The key differentiating factor of the L3 F-TOUCH sensor lies in its direct measurement of interaction forces through an integrated mechanical suspension structure and mirror system. This design ensures higher measurement accuracy and a wider measurement range. Additionally, the sensor’s physical design decouples force measurements from geometry information, making the sensed three-axis force immune from contact geometry. Moreover, the embedded wireless communication capability of the sensor enhances its integrability with robot hands, surpassing its competitors.
Future scope and applications
The research team plans to further extend the sensor’s capabilities to measure rotational forces, such as twists experienced during screw fastening, while maintaining accuracy and compactness. These advancements could enable robots to sense touch more dynamically, making them more agile and capable in manipulation tasks. Potential applications include human-robot interaction settings like patient rehabilitation or providing physical support to the elderly.
A bright future for robotics
The breakthrough achieved with the L3 F-TOUCH sensor opens up new possibilities for robotics. With robots equipped with a sense of touch, they can handle objects with enhanced precision, allowing them to perform complex manipulation tasks with ease. This advancement holds promise for the development of more advanced and reliable robots, revolutionizing various industries and contributing to the seamless integration of robots into human-centric environments.
The L3 F-TOUCH sensor represents a significant step forward in enhancing robots’ tactile capabilities. Its lightweight, low-cost, and wireless design makes it an accessible option for retrofitting existing robot hands and graspers. By enabling robots to “feel” objects and adjust their grip accordingly, the L3 F-TOUCH sensor brings us closer to achieving human-like dexterity in robotics. As this technology continues to evolve, it promises to revolutionize the robotics landscape and find application in a wide range of industries, making robots more capable, adaptable, and safer in their interactions with the world around them.
Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/l3-f-touch-wireless-sensor-enhances-robots/