Slip Detection in Robotics: Addressing an Overlooked Challenge with TG0’s Sensing Platform
Slip is a nuanced mechanical interaction that occurs when the force distribution changes, friction thresholds are exceeded, or micro-vibrations propagate along the contact surface. Without early detection, robots risk dropping objects, overcompensating with excessive force, or failing to complete tasks accurately.
TG0’s platform offers a cost-effective, surface-integrable sensing solution capable of detecting not just pressure, but movement and slippage in real time.
Why Existing Methods Fall Short
Most robotic grippers today rely on:
- Force/torque sensors at the wrist or fingertips
- Vision systems for object tracking
- Capacitive or piezoresistive sensors for pressure mapping
Each of these has limitations:
- Force sensors don’t detect lateral micro-movements within a grasped object.
- Vision can’t always see what's happening inside the gripper, especially in occluded or cluttered environments.
- Pressure sensors may register contact, but not whether that contact is shifting.
What’s missing is a sensing layer that can monitor dynamic surface interactions, giving robots a way to detect slippage as it begins and adjust accordingly.
TG0’s Approach: Surface-Based Slip Detection
TG0’s sensing technology uses a proprietary elastomer-based interface that captures both normal and shear input across a continuous surface. By analyzing spatial and temporal signal changes, we can infer when an object:
- Is in stable contact
- Is beginning to shift (incipient slip)
- Has fully slipped or is at risk of falling
This offers real-time feedback that complements existing pressure or force sensors, or can act as a standalone solution in low-profile or form-constrained designs.
Application Areas
TG0’s sensing platform is already being explored for integration in grippers across a range of domains:
- Logistics & e-commerce: Detecting parcel slippage during fast pick-and-place cycles or AMR hand-offs
- Assembly lines: Preventing misplacement or tool drops during dynamic part manipulation
- Agri-tech: Handling delicate produce with enough grip to secure, but not bruise
Medical robotics: Enabling robotic assistants to hold and pass tools without human intervention - Home robotics: Supporting adaptive manipulation of varied household items without visual dependency
In each case, slip detection provides a layer of safety, efficiency, and adaptability, especially for robots operating autonomously or in unstructured environments.
Integration & Implementation
TG0’s sensors can be embedded into gripper pads or shells using minimal hardware footprint. Benefits include:
- Flexible form factors: Sensors conform to curved or irregular surfaces
- Software-defined calibration: Grip thresholds and slip detection models can be tuned based on material type, task, or use case
- Cost-efficient scaling: Compared to multi-sensor arrays, TG0’s single-surface solution reduces wiring, data processing, and mechanical complexity
We also support rapid prototyping and API-level integration with ROS-compatible environments, making it easier for developers and OEMs to evaluate and deploy slip detection features without a full redesign.
Moving Toward Safer, Smarter Control
Robots are increasingly expected to interact with complex environments and handle a wide range of objects. Slip detection is a critical, and often under-addressed, element of reliable robotic manipulation.
TG0’s sensing platform offers a pragmatic solution that adds real-time slip awareness to robotic hands, grippers, or manipulators, with minimal integration overhead.
If you’re exploring how to make your robotic systems more adaptable, safe, or autonomous, our team is available to discuss sensing strategies and technical consultancy.
