journal article·2025-01-22Open access

Image-Based Tactile Deformation Simulation and Pose Estimation for Robot Skill Learning

Chenfeng Fu, Longnan Li, Yuan Gao, Weiwei Wan, Kensuke Harada, Zhenyu Lu, Chenguang Yang

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 3

Abstract

The TacTip is a cost-effective, 3D-printed optical tactile sensor commonly used in deep learning and reinforcement learning for robotic manipulation. However, its specialized structure, which combines soft materials of varying hardnesses, makes it challenging to simulate the distribution of numerous printed markers on pins. This paper aims to create an interpretable, AI-applicable simulation of the deformation of TacTip under varying pressures and interactions with different objects, addressing the black-box nature of learning and simulation in haptic manipulation. The research focuses on simulating the TacTip sensor’s shape using a fully tunable, chain-based mathematical model, refined through comparisons with real-world measurements. We integrated the WRS system with our theoretical model to evaluate its effectiveness in object pose estimation. The results demonstrated that the prediction accuracy for all markers across a variety of contact scenarios exceeded 92%.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Robot Manipulation and Learning

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK

Harada Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China

Department of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5TR, UK

Funding

Research Grants of The Royal Society · New Faculty Research Initiation Program Project

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