The BioTac SP
New Single-Phalanx Design
Beta Release
Features
- Now introducing a new single phalanx design
- Contains all the sensory capabilities of the human fingertip
- Similar to the human fingertip in size, shape, and compliance
- Withstands >200N normal force
- Software for collecting and processing data
Description
Since its launch in 2008, BioTac® has been the leading tactile sensor. Its uniquely biomimetic design provides the same mechanical properties and sensory modalities as the human finger: skin deformation, vibration, temperature.
Now the same BioTac technology has been miniaturized to the BioTac SP - Single Phalanx - design.
The BioTac SP uses cutting edge technology to pack even more sensors (24 vs. 19) into half the volume with over twice the strength (>200N normal force). It provides computing power for on-board feature extraction (firmware under development).
Integration systems are now available for highly articulated hands available from Shadow Robot Company and Wessling Robotics.
Robot Systems
SynTouch currently makes robot integration systems for the following robotic hands:
Is your robot not featured above? We can develop a custom integration system that includes mechanical adapters and electrical wiring, contact us for more details.
Sensory Capabilities
The BioTac SP has the same three unique types of sensors as the BioTac classic. These sensors permit it to sense all of the information human fingertips are capable of detecting (excluding pain) with a similar range and resolution, including:
- Impedance-sensing electrodes capable of measuring deformations that arise when normal or shear forces are applied to the surface of the skin
- A sensitive pressure transducer capable of sensing both total fluid pressure and vibrations that arise when sliding over textured surfaces
- A set of heaters and a thermistor capable of sensing thermal gradients that arise when touching objects with different thermal properties
Additional details of these sensory capabilities can be found on our BioTac Sensory Modalities page and a complete set of academic publications describing applications and uses of the BioTac can be found on our Publications page.
In designing the BioTac SP to mimic the sensory capabilities and mechanical structure of the human fingertip it can be used to perform a number of human-like tasks with surprising accuracy, including:
- Discriminating objects based on their tactile proprieties such as texture, compliance and thermal properties
- Resolving point of contact
- Resolving normal and shear forces
- Detecting slip
- Estimating the radius of curvature of a contacted object
- Sensing initial contact with an remarkably high sensitivity
- Discriminating edges, corners, and flat surfaces
