Industrial robot tactile sensors can help industrial robots measure any physical interaction with their environment, and this sensor can measure parameters related to the contact between the sensor and the object. And industrial robots also benefit from touch. Force and tactile sensors enable robots to manipulate objects with higher accuracy and sensitivity in environments with fewer structures.
What is a tactile sensor?
Tactile sensors are designed based on the biological sensation of their touch and can detect stimuli from mechanical stimuli, temperature, and pain. Tactile sensors will receive and respond to signals, which can be force or physical contact. Tactile sensors are sensors used in robots to mimic tactile functions. It can be divided into contact sensors, force torque sensors, pressure sensors, and slip sensors according to their functions.
What are the tactile sensors?
1. Optical tactile sensors: There are two types of optical tactile sensors, internal and external, in which the intensity of light is modulated by moving obstacles into the optical path. It has advantages such as resistance to electromagnetic interference and has very high resolution. Low wiring is required, and processing electronic devices can be kept away from sensors.
2. Piezoelectric tactile sensor: The effect of generating voltage on the sensing element when pressure is applied is called the piezoelectric effect. The generation of voltage is proportional to the applied pressure. In this case, no external sensors are required. The advantages of this type of sensor are durability and wide dynamic range. Pressure measurement can be performed.
3. Resistive tactile sensor: The sensor operates based on the change in resistance between the conductive polymer and the electrode. This type of tactile sensor is widely used. When pressure is applied, the resistance of conductive materials changes. Then measure the resistance. The advantages of this sensor are high durability and good overload resistance.
4. Capacitive tactile sensor: In capacitive sensors, capacitance changes between two electrodes are used. This type of capacitive sensor will measure capacitance, which will change under the applied pressure. The capacitance of parallel plate capacitors is related to the spacing and area of the plates. The capacitance will vary according to the load. The advantages of this sensor are linear response and wide dynamic range.
5. Magnetic tactile sensor: Magnetic tactile sensors use two methods: one is to measure changes in magnetic flux density using magnetoresistive devices, and the other is to measure changes in magnetic coupling deformation between windings of magnetoelastic cores. The advantage of this sensor is its high sensitivity and no mechanical lag.
The Role of Industrial Robot Tactile Sensors
In industrial robot operation technology, just like in the human field, vision and touch are complementary modes. Industry experts predict that touch sensing will soon incorporate visual technology into mainstream robot applications. Basically, industrial robot tactile sensors are a type of touch sensor that can provide information about the objects in contact with them. The information conveyed is about the shape, size, and type of the object being touched.
Industrial robot tactile sensors can detect certain things, such as the presence of objects. It can also determine the shape, position, and direction of the part. The object in contact with the sensor is the pressure, so the pressure distribution can be determined. With the help of this device, objects can be inspected, such as texture monitoring, joint inspection, or damage detection. Industrial robot tactile sensors can detect various stimuli, detect the presence of objects, and also obtain tactile images. Tactile sensors have many sensitive parts, and with the help of these parts, they can measure multiple attributes.
The functional component of the industrial robot tactile sensor includes a microswitch, which is a switch sensitive to different ranges of motion. It is an array of touch sensors, forming a larger sensor called a tactile sensor. A separate touch sensor will explain the physical contact between the robot's fingers and the textured surface. Once the industrial robot comes into contact with an object, it sends a signal to the controller.