Contactile

About

Contactile builds the tactile intelligence layer for physical AI. Their patented PapillArray sensor outputs a ready-to-use target grip force for slip prevention in real time, so a robot knows exactly how hard to hold on without knowing what it's holding. Full 3D force, 3D torque, slip and friction data is available underneath for teams building their own manipulation models. The PapillArray also powers their range of tactile-native adaptive grippers where closed-loop grip control is built in and deployable today with no tuning, no processing, and no training.

Team

Heba

CEO & Co-foundr

Benjamin

CTO & Co-founder

Products

Video

Smart Tactile-Native Adaptive Gripper

A robotic gripper that can handle any object without dropping it or crushing it, without any user input, customisation or tuning! Closed-loop tactile control - built in, not bolted on. Powered by the PapillArray. The GAL2 Smart Tactile-Native Gripper is a 2-finger gripper that autonomously and dynamically applies the optimal grip force, calculated in real-time, to prevent translational slip of the grasped object, based on the measured coefficient of static friction between the sensors and the grasped object and the measured shear force acting on the sensors. What the gripper does: ▪ Autonomously applies optimal pressure to objects with varied shapes, weights, textures, fragility ▪ Adapts to objects without user input ▪ Autonomously responds to dynamic forces What that means for you: ▪ Enables automation of fine tasks, and any objects/tasks with one technology ▪ Will NOT drop or crush objects ▪ Reduces commissioning time, rework, engineering ▪ Enables monitoring of process repeatability: ▪ Occurrence of edge cases ▪ Part variation & misalignments ▪ Unpredictable contact conditions Applications: ▪ Pick ‘n’ gentle set-down ▪ Sort by size, weight, compliance ▪ Joint human-robot control ▪ Assembly ▪ General manipulation In addition to native tactile control implemented on the gripper, the sensor data can be read directly to give you full control over the gripper and the ability to feed that data back into your robot arm or manipulator for smarter, adaptive operation: ▪ Stream data at 500 Hz ▪ Poll tactile sensor data ▪ Poll the width between the fingers ▪ Poll the 6-axis IMU data

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Video

PapillArray Tactile Compute Module

Not a sensor. An embedded grasp decision engine. A module that provides tactile intelligence at the edge. Contactile’s patented biomimetic PapillArray tactile array gives robots the answer: exactly how hard to grip, in real time, computed on the sensor itself. No pipeline. No model training. The intelligence is in the module. What the module outputs: ▪ Target grip force for slip prevention What that means for you: ▪ No data processing pipeline ▪ No expensive compute at the edge ▪ Enables dynamic/reactive grip force control in real-time ▪ Optionality to train your own models using raw data Applications: ▪ Robotic grippers ▪ Robotic hands ▪ Prosthetic hands A module that enables physical AI. The PapillArray measures the tactile parameters required for Physical AI for dexterity and manipulation applications. The raw sensor data can be streamed at 1kHz to develop your own data pipelines and Physical AI models. Raw data output: ▪ Taxel contact state, 3D force, 3D deflection and 3D vibration ▪ Global 3D force ▪ Global 3D torque ▪ Partial slip ▪ Friction

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Video

3D Force Button Sensor

3D Force Sensing. Precisely matched to your application. Give your robot a sense of touch. The 3D Force Button Sensor is available in variants across three critical dimensions: sensing area, sensing range, and mounting style. The result is a sensor that can be precisely matched to application requirements — from delicate in-hand manipulation tasks to robust industrial gripping. What the sensor outputs: ▪ 3D force at up to 1 kHz Applications: ▪ Robotic grippers ▪ Robotic hands: fingertips, phalanges, palm ▪ Robotic feet ▪ Prosthetic hands ▪ Gloves for AR ▪ Rehabilitation tools ▪ Exoskeletons ▪ Gaming controllers A sensor that enables physical AI. Add a sense of touch to your device to measure 3D force and rate of change of 3D force from an applied load over time, apply force thresholds to trigger appropriate actions, and detect contact and/or touch. The sensor ships with an open SDK and is designed for fast integration. Optional development board also available.

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Updates

RoboBusiness 2026

Contactile will be exhibiting at RoboBusiness - Santa Clara, 20-21 October 2026. Visit Booth #910 to see and feel the tactile intelligence for yourself and meet CEO & Co-founder Heba Khamis.