Irradiant Sensing Corp. received an NSF STTR grant.

There is a rapidly growing demand for robots and robotic tools that can perform highly delicate maneuvers and interact with the environment in a precise and safe manner. For this, the commonly used visual sensing is simply inadequate and high-performance tactile sensors are needed.

Currently available tactile sensors, however, cannot provide the desired performance due mainly to the limited force sensitivity and spatial resolution. 

Our solution is a novel fluorescence based nanosensor that provide nN sensitivity and micron-scale spatial resolution. The individual sensor is about 100 nm in size and can be made into a massive array for tactile sensing. The combination of high sensitivity and high resolution allows safe interaction with soft, fragile objects and also enables object recognition by texture sensing.

Our vision and commercialization pathway were recognized by a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2024. In this grant, the company will complete the designs of two prototype products. The first is a sensor module that can be mounted/installed on a robot or a robotic tool. The second is an optical fiber based sensor that can be integrated in an endoscope or a laparoscope used in medical examination and surgery, providing precise force feedback during delicate medical procedures.