humanoid robot performs dexterous tasks with high precision using canada firms new tech

Sanctuary AI’s proprietary technology is focused on addressing these growing labor challenges by developing world-leading dexterous hand technology. Sanctuary AI

A Canadian firm has successfully integrated the new tactile sensor technology into its Phoenix general-purpose robots. Sanctuary AI revealed that the integration enables teleoperation pilots to more effectively leverage the dexterity capabilities of general-purpose robots to achieve complex, touch-driven tasks with precision and accuracy.

The integration came as the company recently unveiled Sanctuary AI’s cutting-edge tactile sensors and demonstrated progress in creating dexterous intelligence for autonomous labor.

“The sense of touch is a key enabler for creating human-level dexterity in robots and critical for physical AI to achieve its full potential,” said James Wells, CEO at Sanctuary AI.

Tactile sensors enable reliable manipulation

Wells also revealed that the tactile sensors enable reliable and confident fine manipulation when vision is occluded, unlocking capabilities such as blind picking, slippage detection and prevention of excessive force application, all broadening the scope and range of tasks for general purpose robots.

“By equipping general purpose robots with advanced touch sensors, Sanctuary AI’s technology provides industry-leading capabilities to perform an expanded set of work tasks,” said Wells.

The company claims that the improvements in new tactile sensors enable general-purpose robots to perform complex, touch-driven tasks with precision and accuracy.

The behavioral data collected from new tactile sensors allows embodied physical AI models to be more robust and performant, according to Sanctuary AI.

Without tactile sensing, robots depend on video

“Without tactile sensing, robots depend on video to interact with their environment. With video alone you don’t know you’ve touched something until well after the collision has physically caused the object to move,” said Dr. Jeremy Fishel, principal researcher at Sanctuary AI.

“This reduces work efficiency and can require numerous attempts, grasping and re-grasping the same object for a secure hold. Touch solves this.”

The company claims that as global labor shortages continue to impact industries, many organizations are struggling to fill roles that sustain their operations.

World-leading dexterous hand technology

Sanctuary AI’s proprietary technology is focused on addressing these growing labor challenges by developing world-leading dexterous hand technology that enables general-purpose robots to fill gaps in the global workforce–fulfilling jobs across a variety of industries, including automotive, distribution, energy, logistics, retail, telecom, utilities, and more, according to a press release.

The company, in 2024, unveiled the latest iteration of its Phoenix robots, now equipped with advanced tactile sensors, and remains committed to driving innovation in the AI and robotics industry. This integration marks a further milestone in differentiating its approach to dexterity from competitors who rely on stereo camera feeds for their technology to interact with objects in the real world, according to Sanctuary AI.

The company has been recognized as an intellectual property leader across categories related to general-purpose robots and embodied AI.