XELA Robotics, a Tokyo-based developer of tactile sensor hardware and software, showcased its uSkin 3D tactile sensing technology at CES 2026. The demonstrations highlighted how advanced touch sensing can improve manipulation and automation in humanoid and industrial robots, particularly for tasks requiring delicate and consistent handling of objects.
Key takeaways
- uSkin sensors provide a detailed sense of touch, detecting contact forces, object shape, and movement within a grasp—capabilities beyond typical force or vision sensors.
- The sensors are built from a flexible elastomer and can be integrated across larger surface areas of a robot hand, including fingertips, phalanges, and the palm, enabling more stable gripping of irregular or fragile objects.
- In December 2025, XELA Robotics integrated uSkin into a five-fingered anthropomorphic hand produced by Tesollo, with commercial orders expected to begin in late Q1 2026.
- The technology is already used in academic research and commercial pilots, with applications in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and agriculture.
- XELA Robotics takes an agnostic approach, designing sensors to integrate with parallel grippers, adaptive grippers, custom end-effectors, and existing robotic hands, reducing engineering effort for deployment.
Positioned as a key enabling technology, uSkin aims to support automation systems moving toward handling a wider variety of objects in less structured environments, enhancing the capabilities of both humanoid and industrial robots.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2026-01-25 · “XELA Robotics unlocks enhanced automation for humanoid and industrial robots”