AI

Researchers from Amazon and the University of Michigan have developed HydroShear, a simulator that accurately models tactile forces, enabling robots to learn dexterous, contact-rich manipulation policies entirely in simulation with a 93 percent average success rate. HydroShear's key innovation is the addition of path-dependent force tracking to hydroelastic contact models, allowing for accurate tracking of forces accumulating over a soft sensor membrane during physical interactions. This approach enables the simulation of subtle tactile forces and shear feedback, bridging the tactile reality gap. The practical implication for engineers building AI systems is the potential to develop more advanced robotic manipulation capabilities.