The field of robotics is witnessing significant advancements in tactile sensing and haptic feedback, enabling robots to better interact with and understand their environment. Recent developments have focused on creating more sophisticated and accurate tactile sensing systems, allowing for improved object manipulation and grasping. Notably, researchers are exploring the use of tactile-derived surface normals and curvatures for robust tracking and loop closure, as well as the integration of ultrasound sensing with visuotactile imaging for enhanced material feature perception. Furthermore, novel approaches to haptic rendering are being introduced, simplifying the creation of interactive haptic experiences without relying on physical simulations. These innovations have the potential to significantly enhance the capabilities of robots in various applications, including precise manipulation tasks and human-machine interaction.

Noteworthy papers include: GelSLAM, which presents a real-time 3D SLAM system relying solely on tactile sensing for object pose estimation and shape reconstruction. PneuGelSight, which demonstrates a novel vision-based approach for sensorizing soft robots with high-resolution proprioception and tactile sensing. UltraTac, which introduces an integrated sensor combining visuotactile imaging with ultrasound sensing for enhanced robotic perception.