Tactile sensing system for safe human-robot interaction

The modular tactile sensing system for robotic systems addresses the challenge of ensuring safety during human-robot interaction by providing comprehensive and high-resolution tactile feedback, enabling rapid contact detection and reactive safety motions, thereby enhancing robot safety.

WO2025059544A1 Publication Date: 2025-03-20NORTHEASTERN UNIV (US)
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/US2024/046725
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-09-14
Filing Date
2024-09-13
Publication Date
2025-03-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Current robotic systems face challenges in ensuring safety during human-robot interaction due to limitations in tactile sensing technology, including high costs, complex technology, and inconsistent standards, which hinder the widespread implementation of effective tactile skins that can provide comprehensive and high-resolution force sensing across complex robot geometries.

Method used

A robotic system with a modular tactile sensing system that includes flexible sensor patches and rigid data processing units, capable of transmitting tactile data wirelessly and processing it in real-time using a distributed computing system. This system allows for comprehensive tactile feedback, rapid contact detection and localization, and reactive safety motions to prevent collisions or minimize forces during contact.

Benefits of technology

The system enhances robot safety by enabling comprehensive tactile feedback, rapid detection and localization of contacts, and appropriate reactive behaviors, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and injuries during human-robot interaction.

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Abstract

The present disclosure provides a robotic system for safe human-robot interaction. The system includes a robot body, a plurality of tactile sensors disposed on the robot body to detect contact, and a control system operatively connected to the tactile sensors. The control system receives tactile data from the tactile sensors, determines a safety action based on the tactile data, and controls the robot body to perform the safety action in response to detected contact. The safety action may comprise retracting the robot body away from a detected contact point. The control system can determine a contact force based on the tactile data and adjust a magnitude of the safety action based on the determined contact force. The system enables adaptive and responsive robot behavior to enhance safety during human-robot interactions.
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