Scientists share design so you can make your own 3D-printable 'eFlesh' for robots — affordable, easy to produce, and highly-tactile robot sensor grips can be printed at home

Scientists at New York University have developed 3D-printable 'eFlesh' for robot sensor grips, enabling robots to interact with various objects in unstructured environments. They have shared the design for free, allowing anyone to create their own highly-tactile sensor grips using a 3D printer, magnets, a CAD model, and a magnetometer circuit board. The eFlesh sensors offer precise contact localization and force prediction, enhancing robotic manipulation capabilities. The open-source design includes STL files and software code, making this technology accessible and affordable for robotics enthusiasts. The eFlesh technology incorporates learning-based slip detection models and visuotactile control policies, improving manipulation performance significantly.