Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Optical tactile sensing holds transformative potential for robotics, particularly in collaborative environments where touch perception enhances safety, adaptability, and cognitive interaction. However, traditional tactile technologies based on total internal reflection (TIR) and frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) - such as those used in touchscreen systems - face significant limitations. These include reliance on multiple infrared light sources and cameras, as well as poor adaptability to the complex, curved geometries often found in robotic systems. To address these challenges, we recently introduced OptoSkin, an advanced optical tactile sensor based on direct Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology, enabling touch and pressure detection. In this study, we investigate how specific material properties, particularly light scattering, influence the sensitivity of contact point detection under direct ToF sensing. Four materials with distinct scattering coefficients were selected to assess their impact on signal quality across different contact scenarios involving various target surfaces.
Source: Optical Sensors
DOI: 10.1117/12.3056377
Authors: Ilze Aulika, Andrejs Ogurcovs, Meldra Kemere, Arturs Bundulis, Karlis Kundzins, Jelena Butikova, Aivars Vembris, Anatolijs Sarakovskis, Emmanuel Bacher, Martin Laurenzis, Stephane Schertzer, julija Stopar, Ales Zore, Roman Kamnik, Marko Munih, Sergio Cartiel, Jorge García Pueyo, Adolfo Muñoz Orbañanos
Language: English
Subfield: Instrumentation
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4410640067