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Tech & Science
Chinese researchers have developed an optical sensor the size of a rice grain that gives medical robots a sense of touch for delicate procedures.
An optical sensor smaller than a grain of rice, measuring just 1.7 millimeters, has been developed by a research team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Designed to give medical robots the ability to feel force, pressure, and torsion during delicate operations, the device uses light instead of traditional electronic systems, making it more suitable for precision medical tools and miniature robotics, according to Interesting Engineering.
The technology could represent a breakthrough in minimally invasive surgeries, researchers believe, by allowing robots to detect unsafe contact with sensitive tissues and respond instantly to prevent potential damage.
Current robotic surgery systems rely primarily on imaging but lack the ability to sense physical interaction inside the body, especially in tight and complex spaces. Conventional force sensors are often too large or complicated to integrate into miniaturized medical instruments.
The new sensor operates through optical fibers fitted with a flexible rubber tip that deforms slightly upon contact with an object. This deformation alters how light spreads within the sensor, and the resulting image is analyzed by data-driven algorithms to calculate force and torque in all directions.
Lead researcher Jian Long Yang said the technology allows "machines to feel contact, pressure, and torsion in real time," giving robots greater ability to operate safely within sensitive surgical environments.
To demonstrate the sensor’s effectiveness, the team tested it inside gel models that mimic human tissue and contain solid objects resembling tumors hidden beneath the surface. The results showed the sensor could accurately locate these hidden structures, opening the door for future use in early tumor detection or assisting surgeons during complex procedures.
The team believes integrating this technology into robotic surgical systems could give doctors an unprecedented level of control and precision, particularly in operations inside the eye or through extremely narrow surgical passages where even slight friction could damage delicate tissue.
Researchers are now working to improve the sensor’s manufacturing process and reduce calibration requirements, preparing to integrate it into medical and industrial robots for long-term testing in real operational environments.
Plans are also underway to develop compact, user-friendly systems that would allow doctors and engineers to deploy the technology practically in operating rooms and industrial facilities, a step that could bring robots closer to possessing genuine "human senses."
