A flexible tactile sensor includes a conductive target positioned in a first plane, at least three coils forming an array within a second plane, the second plane spaced apart from the first plane, a pliable material coupling the conductive target to the at least three coils, and an electronic device electrically coupled to each of the at least three coils, the electronic device configured to induce an AC signal within each of the at least three coils and measure a change in inductance in the at least three coils in response to movement of the conductive target.

A sensor unit includes at least three kinesthetic-sense sensors arranged along a plane, each including a first force-receiving part configured to receive an external force. The sensor unit includes a connecting member including a second force-receiving part configured to receive an external force, configured to transfer the external force received by the second force-receiving part to each first force-receiving part and connecting the first force-receiving parts with each other. The sensor unit includes an output unit configured to output signals corresponding to a pressing force in an orthogonal-axis direction orthogonal to the plane and pressing forces in two axial directions parallel to the plane, respectively, the pressing forces being components of divided forces of the external force received by the second force-receiving part, received by the respective first force-receiving parts through the connecting member.

Provided are a device, a system and a method for acquiring a force information based on a bionic structure, including: a force information acquisition layer and a magnetic field signal acquisition chip; wherein a permanent magnet is embedded in the force information acquisition layer; wherein the force information acquisition layer has an elastic structure configured to generate a deformation corresponding to a first force information of a force after being subjected to the force, so that the permanent magnet moves with the deformation to generate a magnetic field signal corresponding to the force information; wherein the magnetic field signal acquisition chip is arranged in parallel with the force information acquisition layer, and is configured to acquire the magnetic field signal and convert the magnetic field signal into an electrical signal.

Devices, systems and methods for calibrating a deformable sensor are disclosed herein. A calibration device for calibrating a deformable sensor includes a frame, at least one actuator supported by the frame, where the at least one actuator comprises a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a probe portion, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the drive mechanism of the at least one actuator. The electronic control unit is configured to cause the drive mechanism to move the probe portion a predetermined position to form a predetermined contact surface defined by an end of the probe portion of the actuator.

A tactile sensor has an elastically deformable sheet, a coil that is provided in the sheet, a powdery or fibrous magnetic material that is provided in the sheet with the coil, and a detection portion that detects an inductance of the coil. The coil is wound in a spiral shape and the powdery or fibrous magnetic material is dispersed in the sheet.

A deformable sensor is provided. The deformable sensor includes a first deformable member defining a first cavity configured to be filled with a medium, a second deformable member defining a second cavity, a rigid component disposed between the first deformable member and the second deformable member such that the first deformable member is positioned on a first portion of the rigid component and the second deformable member is positioned on a second portion of the rigid component, the rigid component including an aperture disposed thereon, and a valve member configured to fluidly couple the first cavity of the first deformable member to the second cavity of the second deformable member via the aperture. The first deformable member has a first rigidity value when the valve member is configured in a first orientation, and a second rigidity value when the valve member is configured in the second orientation.

A plurality of sensors are configured to provide respective outputs that reflect a sensed value associated with engagement of a robotic arm end effector with an item. The respective outputs of the plurality of sensors are used to make a determination associated with engagement of a robotic arm end effector with an item. A first value measured by a first sensor is used to determine a first input associated with a first factor. A second value measured by a second sensor is used to determine a second input associated with a second factor. The first input and the second input are provided to a multi-factor model configured to provide, based at least in part on the first input and the second input, an output associated with engagement of the robotic arm end effector with the item. The output of the multi-factor model is used to make the determination associated with engagement of the robotic arm end effector with the item.

A bilateral teleoperation system includes: a primary-end operation platform and a secondary-end operation platform. The primary-end operation platform includes: a primary-end support, primary-end mechanical arms, a mechanical hand control assembly, and a first controller, a root end of the primary-end mechanical arm being arranged on the primary-end support, and a tail end of the primary-end mechanical arm being connected to the mechanical hand control assembly. The secondary-end operation platform includes: a secondary-end support, secondary-end mechanical arms, secondary-end mechanical hands, and a second controller, a root end of the secondary-end mechanical arm being arranged on the secondary-end support, and a tail end of the secondary-end mechanical arm being connected to the secondary-end mechanical hand; the primary-end mechanical arm and the secondary-end mechanical arm are homogeneous mechanical arms, and the first controller in the primary-end operation platform is communicatively connected to the second controller in the secondary-end operation platform.

A tactile sensing system of a robot may include: a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed at an object, and including a transmission (TX) piezoelectric element and a reception (RX) piezoelectric element; and at least one processor configured to: control the TX piezoelectric element to generate an acoustic wave having a chirp spread spectrum (CSS) at every preset time interval, along a surface of the object; receive, via the RX piezoelectric element, an acoustic wave signal corresponding to the generated acoustic wave; select frequency bands from a plurality of frequency bands of the acoustic wave signal; and estimate a location of a touch input on the surface of the object by inputting the acoustic wave signal of the selected frequency bands into a neural network configured to provide a touch prediction score for each of a plurality of predetermined locations on the surface of the object.

A method of estimating an amount of liquid poured from a container includes receiving a tactile signal detected by at least one tactile sensor of an end effector holding the container containing the liquid; receiving a joint signal including an angular position, angular velocity, and torque of a joint connected to the end effector; and estimating, based on the tactile signal and the joint signal, the amount of liquid poured from the container.