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Machine learning

Breakthrough in Robotics: University of Bristol Develops Advanced Tactile Sensing Mechanism

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a soft transduction mechanism called Coil-Tac, which utilizes a liquid metal core and a conductive helical coil to measure changes in capacitance. The mechanism is capable of oscillatory tactile sensing and touch location estimation when coupled with a soft interface. According to the research, the mechanism is sensitive enough to locate the center of the contact to within 0.23 mm and estimate the incident angle to within 0.53 degrees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Coil-Tac mechanism is based on measuring change in capacitance as a flowable liquid metal core moves within a conductive helical coil.
  • The mechanism is capable of oscillatory tactile sensing at 5 Hz and touch location estimation when coupled to a soft interface.
  • The research estimated that the response of Coil-Tac with various coil pitches to within 0.0502 pF of experimental results in the range of 0-2.5 pF, corresponding to a lateral liquid metal movement of up to 35 mm.
  • The mechanism is sensitive enough to locate the center of the contact to within 0.23 mm and estimate the incident angle to within 0.53 degrees.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Ieee Robotics and Automation Letters.
  • The study was funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
  • The authors, George P. Jenkinson, Andrew T. Conn, and Antonia Tzemanaki, are affiliated with the University of Bristol.

Statistics:

  • The Coil-Tac mechanism is capable of oscillatory tactile sensing at 5 Hz.
  • The mechanism is sensitive enough to locate the center of the contact to within 0.23 mm.
  • The incident angle can be estimated to within 0.53 degrees.
  • The response of the Coil-Tac mechanism was estimated to within 0.0502 pF of experimental results in the range of 0-2.5 pF.
  • The lateral liquid metal movement was up to 35 mm.

Sources:

  • Ieee Robotics and Automation Letters (2025;10(5):5194-5200)
  • NewsRx (2025, May 19)
  • EPSRC (Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council)

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