DailyTech - New USC Robots Get Touchy Feely with New BioTac Sensors

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Science New USC Robots Get Touchy Feely with New BioTac Sensors
Tiffany Kaiser - June 20, 2012 8:33 AM

3 comment(s) - last by Kiffberet.. on Jun 25 at 9:05 AM

The robot is capable of deciphering 117 different materials using its finger

Researchers from the University of Southern California have created a robot that is capable of touch, and can also feel the difference between various textures.

Jeremy Fishel, a recent doctoral student at University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering, along with biomedical engineering Professor Gerald Loeb, have built the specialized robot that is capable of identifying 117 different materials through advanced touch technology.

The robot uses BioTac sensors, which imitate the human fingertip and use an algorithm that allow them to use human methods for deciding which material is which. In addition, the sensors can tell which direction forces are applied as well as the temperature of the objects they're touching.

The robot has what looks like a human finger, where the BioTac sensors are protected by a liquid filling and skin-like covering. It has a fingertip that looks just like a human fingertip, complete with a fingerprint that helps the robot to feel vibrations. These vibrations are felt thanks to a hydrophone inside the finger.

By using the same exploratory movements that humans use to determine a texture, the robot is capable of deciphering 117 different materials using its finger. The researchers found that the robot is right 95 percent of the time when confronted with different textures.

Fishel and Loeb hope to use the sensors in human prosthetics in order to make the limbs more life-like. The sensors could also be used for companies that study the feel of consumer products.

Fishel and Loeb are now selling their BioTac sensors through SynTouch LLC, which was founded by the University of California's Medical Device Development Facility. SynTouch LLC develops tactile sensors for systems that imitate the human hand.

Robotic hands have come a long way. Just last year, Virginia Tech researchers had just created robotic hands capable of performing human tasks like opening doors and typing.

Check out the robotic hand in the video below:

Source: University of Southern California

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Huge step forward.

By Doken44 on 6/21/2012 5:59:25 PM , Rating: 2

This is a big step for amputees and for adding tactile feedback to remotely operated robotic tools.

This could eventually allow doctors and rescue workers to get into dangerous areas and provide medical assistance remotely.

This could eventually allow astronauts to have hugely improved hand use in the vacuum of space.

How about a miniaturized version providing surgeons tactile feedback while performing surgeries that require the use of tongs and other similar tools?

Just a few ideas, I just hope that nervous system integration technology can catch up.

RE: Huge step forward.

By Kiffberet on 6/25/2012 9:05:35 AM , Rating: 2

"This could eventually allow astronauts to have hugely improved hand use in the vacuum of space".

Yeah, I can't wait for that ;-)

Parent

Needs just a little more refinement...

By inperfectdarkness on 6/21/2012 7:33:43 AM , Rating: 2

...and then wounded-warrior marines will be able to still utilize expert trigger-squeeze. Perhaps the days of a soldier's career being cut untimely short by an attack--will be a thing of the past.