For many robotics applications, the systems must be able to interact tactically with humans and their environment. This requirement has driven research in touch sensing for years. Pressure Profile Systems (PPS) Inc., a Harvard University robotics lab spin-off, has spent more than a decade developing its capacitive touch sensing technology into flexible, versatile sensor products for integration on a variety of platforms.
Unfortunately, high prices had limited touch sensing technology to research projects and prototypes. Competition among producers of consumer electronics, however, has resulted in capacitive touch sensing being added to mobile phones, computers, and other devices. This has brought capacitive touch sensor manufacturing to a high production volume, dramatically reducing the price point, and allowing the technology to be integrated into other types of systems.