Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed a breakthrough technology that allows robots to “feel” objects using nothing more than a standard USB webcam instead of expensive electronic touch sensors.
The system relies on a flexible artificial silicone skin containing a special optical layer. When pressure is applied, the material changes the way it reflects light, creating a unique color pattern. A simple webcam captures these changes in real time, while software translates them into precise information about pressure, shape and surface hardness.
According to the research team, the technology achieves an impressive resolution of around 100 microns without requiring thousands of tiny electronic sensors or complex processing hardware. This makes the system significantly more affordable and easier to integrate into robotic platforms.
The innovation could transform industrial automation, robotic surgery and advanced prosthetic limbs by giving machines a far more accurate sense of touch when handling delicate objects or performing precision tasks.
Experts believe the breakthrough represents a major step toward creating robots capable of interacting with the physical world in a way that more closely resembles the human sense of touch.
