Scottish scientists have developed a new sensor‑glove technology that could dramatically improve robot dexterity, potentially allowing machines to take on complex tasks, from remote surgery to dangerous manoeuvres in space.

Created by a team from the University of Edinburgh, the low-cost gloves detect hand gestures and subtle movements more accurately than existing systems, data which researchers said could be used to teach robots how to use their “hands” in human-like ways.

The gloves, which cost around £50 to make, are equipped with a range of sensors to detect the smallest of movements, such as fingers bending or changes in the spacing between fingers, a feature that existing technologies tend to lack.

The sensors, housed in silicone and composed of liquid metal electrodes, sense movement by measuring changes in the amount of electrical charge, known as capacitance, when the fingers of the glove bend or the distance between them changes.

To test their design, the team collected data from participants wearing the glove, with each performing different hand gestures, which the sensors detected with more than 99% accuracy.

The researchers also used cameras to track the hand at the same time, producing a comparison dataset to test the glove’s accuracy. Their results show that the sensors can accurately reconstruct hand shape and movements that closely match the comparison data, outperforming current technologies by almost 10%.

“By using highly stretchable liquid metal electrodes, we can capture the continuous, fluid transition of a hand in motion. This high-fidelity gesture data is the missing link needed to teach robots not just how to hold an object, but how to manipulate it with human-like agility and grace,” said Dr Yunjie Yang, leader of the study from the university’s School of Engineering.

Recommended reading

• “Physical AI” Market Tipped to Hit $200Bn by 2035
• Report: Policy Delays Holding Back £1.3bn Robot Opportunity
• National Robotarium Launches Policy Paper on Scotland’s Robotics Future

Next, the researchers plan to push their glove further by embedding tech that mirrors the human hand’s sense of touch across the entire palm.

Working with Edinburgh Innovations, the Edinburgh University’s commercialisation service, the team will look to translate their findings, as well as a related, flexible electronic skin technology, into real-world impact.

Supported by a commercialisation grant from the European Research Council, the focus will initially be on the tech’s use in creating next-generation, humanoid robotics, where whole-body sensing is critical for intelligent interaction with the physical world.   

Target applications span a range of use cases from health care, such as surgical robotics and compliant prostheses, to virtual and augmented reality and wearable technologies.