At the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Atlanta, a recent gathering of over 7,000 robotics experts, a standout performance came from an unexpected quarter: a debut on the global stage by a Chinese firm making waves in the burgeoning field of embodied AI.
The event, hosted by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and held annually since 1984, is a bellwether for the industry. With Google Scholar Metrics consistently ranking it as a top publication venue in robotics, ICRA serves as a crucial platform for showcasing cutting-edge research and forecasting future trends. This year, all eyes were on the rise of embodied artificial intelligence, and a Shenzhen-based company, has positioned itself at the forefront with its innovative approach to tactile sensing.
This year, the spotlight was on the debut of DM-Tac W, a multi-dimensional, high-resolution, high-frequency visual-tactile sensor, and DM-Hand1, a multi-dimensional tactile-sensing hand. The reception was enthusiastic, with both academics and industry professionals taking note.
At the company’s booth, interactive demos of the DM-Tac W and DM-Hand1 drew considerable attention. The DM-Tac W, boasting an impressive 40,000 sensing units per square centimeter, surpasses the density of any array-type tactile sensor currently available. It’s engineered to capture a wealth of data, including object shape, texture, softness, slippage, pressure, and tangential forces. A “Angry Birds” game demo, visitors were able to manipulate the bird’s trajectory by applying pressure to the DM-Tac W, highlighting the sensor’s high resolution, frequency, and multi-modal capabilities.
The DM-Hand1 also garnered significant interest. By integrating millimeter-thin visual-tactile sensors into the fingertips, the company substantially reduced finger thickness, enhancing the flexibility and adaptability of robotic hands. The multi-modal tactile data provided by the DM-Hand1 enables robots to perform complex tasks such as adaptive grasping, handling fragile objects, and assembling precision components.
The company’s innovation lies in its unique approach to visual-tactile technology, a strategy that bucks conventional methods.
In modern manufacturing, while front-end processes are highly automated, the assembly of irregular parts often still relies on manual labor. The key to greater robotic adoption lies in dexterity.
Their roots are in a research team from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed a dedicated product for tactile sensors. The company, has spent eight years refining the technology, which originated from a six-year research collaboration between Professor Wang Yu. A key innovation has centered on a single-color pattern-tracking approach, addressing some of the previous limitations. The company is also pushing for the commercialization of the “world’s thinnest” visual-tactile sensors, pioneering mass production in China.
ICRA 2025 proved a success for the company. The company’s DM-Tac W and DM-Hand1 not only gained international recognition but also secured overseas orders, marking the first large-scale export of Chinese visual-tactile products. The firm is now planning to work with global research partners to further develop applications of embodied AI and drive innovations in the robotics industry.
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