New technologies for robotic tactile sensing and navigation

Purpose This aims to provide details of new sensor technologies and developments with potential applications in robotic tactile sensing and navigation. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this provides examples of tactile sensing research. This is followed by details of research into inertial sensors and other navigation techniques. Finally, brief conclusions are drawn. Findings This shows that tactile sensing and navigation techniques are the topic of a technologically diverse research effort which has prospects to impart various classes of robots with significantly enhanced capabilities. Originality/value This provides a technically detailed insight into recent sensor research with applications in robotic tactile sensing and navigation.