1. Tactile Sensors:
Tactile Sensor is a device specifying an object’s contact. Often used in everyday objects such as elevator buttons and lamps, which dim or brighten by touching the base, a tactile sensor allows the robot to touch and feel. These sensors are used to measure applications and gently interact with the environment. It can be sorted into two principal types: Touch Sensor and Force Sensor.
a) Touch Sensor or Contact Sensor: Touch Sensor is capable of sensing and detecting sensor and object touch. Some of the commonly used simple devices are micro-switches, limit switches, etc. These sensors are mostly used for robots to avoid obstacles. When these sensors hit an obstacle, it triggers a task for the robot, which can be reversed, turned, switched on, stopped, etc.
b) Force Sensor: Force sensor is included in calculating the forces of several functions, such as machine loading & unloading, material handling, and so on, performed by a robot. This sensor will also be a better assembly process to check problems.
2. Proximity Sensor:
The nearby object can be detected by a proximity sensor without physical contact. The transmitter transmits electromagnetic radiation in the adjacent sensor and receives and analyzes the interruption feedback signal. Thus, the amount of light received in the area can be used to detect the presence of nearby objects. The sensors provide a collision avoidance method for the robot.
There are various types of proximity sensors, and only a few of them are usually used in robots.
Infrared (IR) transceiver: An IR LED transmits an IR light beam that reflects the light captured by an IR recipient when an obstacle is found.
Ultrasound Sensor: These sensors generate sound waves at high frequencies; the received echo indicates an object is interrupted. Ultrasound sensors can also be used for distance measurement.
Photoresistor: Photoresistor is a light sensor, but it can still be utilized as a sensor of proximity. If an object approaches the sensor, the number of light changes, which changes the resistance of the Photoresistor. This is detectable and processable.