Tactile recognition system for surgical robots

Abstract

Superseding voice and vision recognition systems, a brand new systematical method of tactile recognition, which gives robots 'tactile sense', is proposed. Based on the two basic data of robotics, namely position and force data, this new method analyzes the characteristics of each object in a systematic way and categorizes them quantitatively based on these characteristic parameters. For instance, this system can tell which organ the robot is touching with a sensitivity that is as good or better than experienced doctors. This system also allows robots to automatically adjust forces according to an object's material properties such as hardness or fragility thereby enhancing the safety of the technique. Providing new human-like 'senses' to robots, this system would increase the long term viability of robotics.