Sensors

Sensors convert physical interaction into usable data: light into pixels, force into pressure maps, motion into pose estimates. Cameras, inertial units, tactile arrays, and torque sensors form the foundation of humanoid perception and control.

Modern systems process these inputs simultaneously. Depth cameras reconstruct 3D structure. LiDAR maps surroundings. Tactile sensors detect slip and contact. IMUs (inertial measurement units) track body position and acceleration, enabling real-time balance and fall detection. =

Robotic senses. Source: Robotics: Five Senses plus One—An Overview

The shift is toward multimodal fusion — vision, touch, motion, and audio working together to build a coherent model of the world. High-speed sensing enables reflexes: grip correction, obstacle avoidance, terrain adaptation.