6 Tactile Sensor Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for tactile sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 6 tactile sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tactile sensor companies as of November, 2024: 1.CORNELL PUMP COMPANY, 2.Pressure Profile Systems, 3.Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG.
Table of Contents
What Is a Tactile Sensor?
A tactile sensor is a sensor that mimics the human sense of touch.
The sensing device used is a sensor that converts the pressure and vibration of a contact surface into an electrical signal, and various technological efforts, including those around sensor technology, are underway to mimic the function of this sensor to the human sense of touch. In addition, tactile sensors are integrated with multiple pieces of information, such as temperature sensitivity, to estimate the texture of sensitive objects.
The sense of touch is essential for the development of robotics technology because it plays an important role not only in evaluating the properties and texture of objects but also in basic human movements, such as grasping objects with appropriate force and writing with a pen in one's hand.
Uses of Applications of Tactile Sensors
Tactile sensors are used in medical diagnostics, robotics, and industrial applications.
Recently, however, the application to the game space represented by VR (virtual reality) and the metaverse field is also highly expected under the generic name of haptics, a tactile technology.
1. Medical Applications of Tactile Sensors
The ability to evaluate the hardness of an object makes it possible to detect the presence of "lumps" originating from breast or prostate cancer with high sensitivity, contributing to the early detection of cancer. In addition, by evaluating roughness caused by surface roughness, it can be used for quantitative evaluation of dermatitis and xerosis.
2. Application of Tactile Sensors in Robotics
In robotics, the development of finger-mimicking sensors provides information for adjusting grip strength as sensors for robotic hands.
3. Industrial Application of Tactile Sensors
In industry, monitoring the texture of products can be useful for quality control.
4. Haptics for VR
In the world of VR (virtual reality), goggles for 3D have already been commercialized, and applications to reproduce a more realistic world in VR by attaching a suit or gloves to the VR and installing tactile sensors are being worked on.
Principle of Tactile Sensors
Tactile sensors use various physical phenomena to convert the force of contact with an object into an electrical quantity, and are composed mainly of conversion devices (sensors: elements). These electrical signals are analyzed via signal and information processing circuits. In principle, the sensor can employ a variety of detection modalities.
For example, one method is to detect the electrostatic capacitance resulting from changes caused by the application of pressure in a space sandwiched by conductive Depending on the application, piezoelectric ceramic elements (PZT: lead zirconate titanate) are generally used as the sensor element in many cases. Piezoelectric ceramic elements, also called piezoelectric elements, produce voltage changes when pressure is applied. This is called the piezoelectric effect.
The arrangement of ions in the solid crystal of a piezoelectric element changes when pressure is applied, causing a phenomenon called electric polarization, in which one end of the crystal is charged with positive electricity and the other with negative electricity. The pressure information and vibration frequency information are converted into electrical signals by the piezoelectric element, which can then be converted into tactile information through analog and digital processing circuits composed of ASICs and other devices.
In addition, as an optical principle, the contact position of an object on the sensor surface can be captured by detecting changes in the scattered light in the optical waveguide inside the sensor.
Other Information on Tactile Sensors
1. Tactile Sensor Market
The market size of tactile sensors is projected to reach $16,083.8 million by 2025 from $8,204.9 million in 2019.
Tactile sensors are one of the key elements supporting the development of robots that can work with humans. For example, a robot called RoCycle, which is being developed at MIT in the US, has a Tactile Sensor built into its hand that identifies materials so that it can recognize and sort paper, plastic, and metal.
At the Pohang University of Technology in Korea, a human fingerprint sensor is being developed using nano springs that can sense minute pressure and vibration. The results of the development include a machine learning analysis of the information obtained from the tactile sensor and the successful differentiation of eight types of fibers with an accuracy of 99.8%. As the accuracy of tactile sensors improves, demand for these sensors is expected to increase, especially in the robotics industry.
2. MEMS Tactile Sensor
MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) is a device in which sensors, electronic circuits, etc. are integrated on a substrate using micro-fabrication technology.
In recent years, ultra-sensitive tactile sensors using MEMS technology have been attracting attention.
3. Expansion Into the Field of Haptics
In addition to the world of VR, haptics is expanding its application to various familiar fields. Examples include home buttons on smartphone screens, navigation systems on the instrument panels of electric vehicles, styluses for electronic authentication, and PC keyboards.
In these fields, how small, lightweight, thin, and realistic tactile sensors can be realized is critical in terms of tactile technology. Therefore, manufacturers are working hard to develop cutting-edge MEMS technology, piezoelectric device technology, and application software.
List of 6 Tactile Sensor Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
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- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
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- United States of America
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CORNELL PUMP COMPANY
Pressure Mapping Sensors
Manufacturer Overview
Cornell Pump Company, founded in 1946 in Clackamas, Oregon, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of robust pumping solutions. The company designs and produces a wide range of pumps, including centrifugal pumps, agricultural pumps, industrial pumps, and more. These pumps find applications in various sectors, such as agriculture, municipal water systems, mining, and food processing. Besides, the company is an great provider of efficient and ideal pumping solutions worldwide. Courtesy of its aim for quality and effectiveness, Cornell Pump continues to meet the diverse needs of its clients across different industries.
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igm Robotersysteme AG
IGM GAS NOZZLE SEARCHING - TACTILE SENSOR FOR POSITION DETECTION
Manufacturer Overview
igm Robotersysteme AG, founded in 1967 and currently a subsidiary of Global Welding Technologies AG, is a Wiener Neudorf, Austria-based manufacturer specializing in the development of welding automation solutions. The company’s product lineup includes welding and cutting robot systems, featuring components equipped with digital signal processors (DSPs). Supported by software products and offline programming systems, these solutions find applications in heavy engineering industries, including excavator, locomotive, and railway wagon manufacturing. They are also employed in bridge and gantry crane construction as well as shipbuilding.
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Hager Ltd
KNX sensors
Manufacturer Overview
Hager Ltd., established in 1955 and headquartered in Blieskastel, Germany, is a manufacturer of electrical installations tailored for use in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The company's product range includes meter space systems, distribution systems, switching and protection devices, energy management and monitoring solutions, and cable routing and room connection systems. These products cater to various applications, including energy distribution and metering systems, cable management systems for power and data distribution, and building security systems. The company supplies products from other brands such as Berker, Bocchiotti, Elcom, and E3/DC. It has 22 manufacturing sites in 10 countries worldwide.
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Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG
SAFETY-RELATED TACTILE SENSOR
Manufacturer Overview
Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1945, by Heinz and Philip Schmersal, is a name in safety technology, is a manufacturer of safety technology solutions, specializing in switchgear and control devices for various industries. With a diverse range of mechanical and electro-sensitive switching devices, they offer an extensive collection of safety switching systems and devices for safeguarding both humans and machinery. The company looks after three key domains: lift technology, automation technology, and safety technology. Their substantial approach position them as a global supplier of safety switching devices, catering to the safety and automation needs of various industries.
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INABA RUBBER CO.,LTD
Inastomer
Manufacturer Overview
INABA RUBBER CO.,LTD, established in 1963 and headquartered in Nishiku, Japan, is a manufacturer specializing in various rubber products. Its product catalog includes O-rings, precision rubber balls, the Elastomer pressure conductive sensor (Inastomer), precision molded rubber items, and Petan cushions. These rubber solutions find applications across diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and medical. It plays a crucial role in sealing, cushioning, and safeguarding components in a array of applications, highlighting its significance in enhancing performance and quality in various sectors.
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Pressure Profile Systems
Capacitive tactile sensor
Manufacturer Overview
Pressure Profile Systems (PPS), founded in 1996, is a manufacturer of sensor technology, specializing in custom sensor design, hardware, and software integration, with offices in the UK, United States, Korea, and Vietnam. The company's range of products includes various tactile sensors designed for challenging applications such as body pressure mapping, medical devices, and semiconductors, as well as the DigiTact sensor, which is suitable for testing across smaller areas, embedding, and OEM integration. The company also offers the SingleTact used for single points of contact or applications where only one sensing element is required.
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Tactile Sensor Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CORNELL PUMP COMPANY |
41.5%
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| 2 | Pressure Profile Systems |
16.7%
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| 3 | Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG |
11.9%
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| 4 | Hager Ltd |
11.3%
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| 5 | igm Robotersysteme AG |
11.0%
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| 6 | INABA RUBBER CO.,LTD |
7.5%
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Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tactile sensor page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- CORNELL PUMP COMPANY: 1946 (78 years ago)
Company with a History
- CORNELL PUMP COMPANY: 1946 (78 years ago)
Tactile Sensor Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Tactile Sensor Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
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1 | 100.0% |
List of Tactile Sensor Products
5 products are listed.
True Sortech
Voltage output type piezoelectric load sensor "FTW01/05/10/20"
50+ people viewing
◆ Measurement range 1 kn / 5 kn / 10 kn / 20kN A voltage output type load sensor with an amplifier with an amplifier at one end of the attached co...
Hosoda Co., Ltd.
Electrostatic capacity Weight sensor Small tactile sensor pressure sensor
70+ people viewing
The small electrostatic capacity pressure and touch sensors are ･ Flexibility that compresses even a small force in the tactile sensation and pres...
