Thermal tactile sensing

Abstract

The measurement of temperature change as an indication of a material's relative thermal conductivity has often been utilized as a means of tactile sensing. Unfortunately, the long time response of most thermal sensors makes such a technique too slow for normal industrial robotic uses. The authors consider human tactile performance with particular regard to temperature sensing and introduce a means by which a usable risetime may be achieved. Two methods, using devices hitherto not utilized for tactile sensing, are demonstrated.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>