Neuromorphic Tactile Sensing Array NeuroTouch Released: Machine Fingers Can Now Feel the Difference Between Silk and Sandpaper
The Italian Institute of Technology's NeuroTouch tactile sensing array mimics the multi-layer receptor structure of human fingertips, enabling robots to distinguish between 20 different materials including silk, sandpaper, and rubber for the first time.
Neuromorphic Tactile Sensing Array NeuroTouch Released: Machine Fingers Can Now Feel the Difference Between Silk and Sandpaper
On June 14, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) released the NeuroTouch neuromorphic tactile sensing array. The sensor mimics the multi-layer receptor structure of human fingertip skin, incorporating three sensing layers that simulate Merkel cells, Meissner corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles, responding to static pressure, vibration, and slip respectively.
In testing, robot fingers equipped with NeuroTouch were able to distinguish between 20 different materials — including silk, sandpaper, rubber, wood, and metal — with an accuracy rate of 94.7%. The sensor has been integrated into IIT's humanoid robot iCub, enabling it to complete "identify objects by touch in the dark" tasks for the first time. Several robot manufacturers have expressed interest in integrating NeuroTouch into next-generation collaborative robots.
Disclaimer
Content is AI-generated. Do not use it as a basis for real decisions. Do not cite it as factual reporting.