Tactile Robotics: Past and Future

TL;DR

This paper reviews the history and future prospects of tactile robotics, highlighting past developments, current themes like e-skins and soft touch, and future applications in human-like dexterity and telepresence.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical perspective and expert insights to identify challenges and opportunities shaping the future of tactile robotics.

Findings

Historical phases of tactile robotics evolution

Emerging themes like e-skins and tactile Internet

Future applications in human-like dexterity and telepresence

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.