Ask HN: Will robots/AI ever be able to figure out touch?
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We already have fingerprint reader touchpads on some devices, make those squishy instead of a hard surface and you got yourself a flesh-like feeler.
As for temperature and humidity those sensors can also be included. Although the interesting bit here is how they're integrated/distributed in humans vs how we've classically designed them in robots due to precision concerns as opposed to relative difference.
As for temperature and humidity those sensors can also be included. Although the interesting bit here is how they're integrated/distributed in humans vs how we've classically designed them in robots due to precision concerns as opposed to relative difference.
Guide the tip over your finger over a variety of different surfaces. Your shirt, your desk, your keyboard, your hair.
Just a square centimeter of skin can immediately determine (roughly) what it is in contact with by detecting its texture, moisture level, temperature, etc. And this impressive material surrounds nearly 100% of your body.
Computer vision is making some impressive strides, but is anyone even trying to work on computer touch? Is there any hope that we could come close to matching the impressive capabilities of skin?