Sense of Touch: from Haptics to Robotic Tactile Sensing
This talk explores the intersection of haptics, human touch perception, and robotic tactile sensing, covering principles of human touch, traditional and emerging robotic tactile sensors, and their applications in human-robot interaction, including a case study on tactile gloves for breast lump detection.
Overview
The sense of touch is fundamental to how humans perceive and interact with the world. In this talk, we will explore the intersection of haptics, human perception, and robotic tactile sensing. We will begin by discussing the principles of haptics, including haptic illusions and the mechanisms underlying human tactile perception. By understanding how humans process touch, we can better design artificial tactile systems that mimic or enhance this capability.
The talk will then transition to traditional tactile sensors used in robotics, examining their working principles, limitations, and applications in robotic manipulation. We will also explore non-traditional tactile sensing approaches, including innovative materials and emerging technologies that push the boundaries of how robots perceive contact forces and textures.
Finally, we will discuss the role of tactile sensing in human-robot interaction, highlighting applications where robots equipped with advanced tactile sensors enhance safety, dexterity, and collaboration. One compelling case study is the use of tactile gloves for breast lump detection, demonstrating how robotic sensing technologies can contribute to medical diagnostics and healthcare advancements.
Presenters
Zhanat Kappassov, Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Brief Biography
Zhanat Kappassov (Senior Member, IEEE) received his Engineering degree from Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics, Russia, in 2011, and his Ph.D. in Robotics from Sorbonne University (formerly University of Pierre et Marie Curie), Paris, France, in 2017. He has worked at the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and pursued postdoctoral studies at Bentley University, Boston, USA. Currently, he is an Associate Professor in the Robotics Department at Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan. His research interests include robotics, haptics and tactile sensing.