Tactile Robotics: Past and Future

2025-11-30

AI Summary

Despite decades of research, tactile robotics has faced persistent technical bottlenecks and stagnation, with unclear evolutionary trajectories and limited translational impact. Method: Through a comprehensive literature review of 150+ studies—combined with historical analysis and thematic clustering—we propose the first four-generation evolutionary framework characterizing the field’s progression from inception and diversification to integration and intelligent transition. Contribution/Results: The study identifies electronic skin, vision–tactile multimodal perception, and the tactile internet as critical enablers for breakthroughs. It prospectively outlines commercialization pathways post-2025 in dexterous manipulation, embodied AI, and telepresence. Crucially, it establishes tactile robotics’ central role within general AI and human-like embodied systems, delivering a strategic roadmap that bridges theoretical rigor and industrial applicability.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Embodied AI
• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Safety, Robustness & Trustworthiness

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Applied ML and AI for Web-based mobile applications
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic ramifications for generative AI infrastructure and applications
• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems

Abstract

What is the future of tactile robotics? To help define that future, this article provides a historical perspective on tactile sensing in robotics from the wealth of knowledge and expert opinion in nearly 150 reviews over almost half a century. This history is characterized by a succession of generations: 1965-79 (origins), 1980-94 (foundations and growth), 1995-2009 (tactile winter) and 2010-2024 (expansion and diversification). Recent expansion has led to diverse themes emerging of e-skins, tactile robotic hands, vision-based tactile sensing, soft/biomimetic touch, and the tactile Internet. In the next generation from 2025, tactile robotics could mature to widespread commercial use, with applications in human-like dexterity, understanding human intelligence, and telepresence impacting all robotics and AI. By linking past expert insights to present themes, this article highlights recurring challenges in tactile robotics, showing how the field has evolved, why progress has often stalled, and which opportunities are most likely to define its future.

Problem

• Traces historical evolution of tactile sensing in robotics
• Identifies recurring challenges and reasons for stalled progress
• Highlights future opportunities for commercial and AI applications

Innovation

• Historical review of tactile sensing generations
• Recent expansion into e-skins and vision-based sensing
• Future maturation for commercial dexterity and telepresence