Engineers at Queen Mary University here have developed a sensor that enhances tactile capabilities in robots, allowing them to “feel” objects and adjust grip accordingly.

Engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a robotic gripper that is gentle enough to pick up a drop of water, strong enough to pick up a 14-pound weight, dexterous enough to fold a cloth, and precise enough to pick up strips of film that are 20 times thinner than a human hair.