Meta Teams Up with GelSight and Wonik Robotics for Revolutionary Tactile Sensors
Meta is making waves in the world of artificial intelligence by partnering with innovative firms GelSight and Wonik Robotics. Their mission? To develop and commercialize cutting-edge tactile sensors that promise to elevate AI capabilities to new heights.
Meet Digit 360: A Game-Changer in Tactile Sensing
At the forefront of this initiative is the Digit 360, which Meta has dubbed “a tactile fingertip with human-level multimodal sensing capabilities.” This impressive piece of tech is the successor to Meta’s original Digit sensor, designed to accurately digitize touch signals. Equipped with an on-device AI chip and around 18 distinctive sensing features, Digit 360 has the remarkable ability to detect changes in its environment.
In a recent blog post, Meta elaborated on the intricate design of this sensor: “We developed a touch-perception-specific optical system with a wide field of view for capturing omnidirectional deformations on the fingertip surface.” But that’s not all—this sensor comes armed with various sensing modalities to capture the unique profiles produced by mechanical, geometrical, and chemical properties of different surfaces. With capabilities to perceive vibrations, detect heat, and even identify odors, Digit 360 is set to revolutionize human-robot interaction.
Ready to get your hands on this technology? Digit 360 will be available for purchase next year, with Meta opening up a call for research proposals, giving select researchers early access to this remarkable sensor.
Advancing Robotics with the Allegro Hand
But Meta isn’t stopping there. They also have their sights set on redefining robotics through their collaboration with Wonik Robotics. Together, they are developing the next generation of the Allegro Hand, a robotic hand equipped with tactile sensors similar to those found in Digit 360. This cutting-edge hand aims to streamline the integration of sensors into robotics, providing a robust platform for experiments and research.
Meta has big plans for this robotic hand. “Allegro Hand is poised to help advance robotics research by making it easier for researchers to conduct experiments,” they stated. By harnessing multimodal signals, these devices will allow scientists to explore AI applications that can understand the intricacies of the physical world—everything from how objects interact with one another to the physics of contact itself.
Expect to see the Allegro Hand hit the market next year, bringing along with it a wealth of opportunities for research and development in AI and robotics.
The Future of AI is Touch
With Meta’s investments in these tactile sensors, we are on the brink of a major breakthrough that could lead to more intuitive AI systems. Imagine a future where robots can feel and respond to their environment in a way that mimics human touch. This could transform industries from healthcare to manufacturing, enabling robots to perform delicate tasks with unprecedented accuracy.
The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.
