Key takeaways
- XELA Robotics showcased its uSkin® 3D tactile sensor technology at CES for the first time.
- The company demonstrated human-like touch capabilities integrated into robot hands and grippers.
- uSkin sensors are already used in academic and commercial environments.
- Integrations are available for several established robot hand and gripper platforms.
- Commercial orders for new integrations are expected to begin in early 2026.
XELA Robotics Showcases Tactile Sensor Technology At CES
XELA Robotics, a specialist in advanced 3D tactile sensing, announced that it has successfully enabled a human-like sense of touch for humanoid and industrial robots. The company is exhibiting for the first time at CES, presenting a live demonstration of its uSkin® sensor technology integrated into robotic hands and grippers at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
According to the company, the hardware and software platform enables what it describes as physical AI, addressing a long-standing limitation in robotics where machines struggle to handle objects with the same care and precision as humans.
uSkin Sensors Integrated Into Robot Hands And Grippers
XELA Robotics stated that its uSkin sensors are durable, compact, and designed for straightforward integration into robotic systems. The sensors are available as standalone components or as fully integrated solutions embedded directly into robot hands and grippers.
The company offers integrations compatible with existing hardware from several robotics suppliers, including Wonik Robotics, Sake Robotics, Weiss Robotics, and Robotiq. This approach allows customers to enhance tactile sensing capabilities without replacing their current robotic platforms.
In December 2025, XELA Robotics announced the successful integration of uSkin sensors into the Tesollo DG-5F five-fingered anthropomorphic robot hand. Commercial orders for this configuration are expected to begin in the latter part of the first quarter of 2026.
Human-Like Touch For Complex Robotic Tasks
3D Tactile Sensing Across Larger Surface Areas
The uSkin sensor family enables robots to measure grip force and detect object movement within the grasp. Constructed from a flexible elastomer, the sensors conform to various object shapes and can be customized for specific applications.
Unlike many robotic hands that rely solely on fingertip sensing, XELA Robotics integrates tactile sensors across a larger surface area, including fingertips, phalanges, and the palm. The 3D tactile sensors capture object shape and contact forces in real time, with future capabilities planned to include slip detection.
XELA Robotics Targets Industrial And Agricultural Applications
The company stated that its proprietary high-density, three-axis tactile sensors are designed for use across a range of applications, including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and agriculture. By enabling more precise manipulation, the technology aims to reduce handling errors and expand automation into tasks previously difficult for robots to perform reliably.
Alexander Schmitz, Chief Executive Officer of XELA Robotics, said the company has taken an open approach to commercialization, focusing on making human-like tactile sensing available across the robotics industry.
XELA Robotics noted that its sensors are engineered to integrate seamlessly into existing grippers and robotic hands, reducing engineering complexity, deployment risk, and overall system cost for customers adopting advanced tactile sensing.
