LG Innotek is teaming up with Japanese electronic components corporations TDK to expand its business from vision sensing, the eyes of robots, to tactile sensing, the skin. The two companies plan to unveil a vision sensing module combined with an inertial sensor in 2027 and complete development of a tactile sensing module.
LG Innotek said on the 28th that it signed a strategic partnership with TDK in physical artificial intelligence (AI). They will jointly develop sensing solutions for robots by combining LG Innotek's optical and ultra-precision design technologies with TDK's inertial, position, pressure, and temperature sensor technologies.
First, the two companies will integrate TDK's inertial and position sensors and microphones into LG Innotek's vision sensing module. The goal is to process not only visual information but also the robot's movement, direction, and surrounding sounds together to improve recognition accuracy.
Equipping an inertial measurement unit (IMU) makes it possible to correct image shake that occurs when a robot moves. Supplying multiple sensors as a single module can also reduce the burden on robot manufacturers to purchase and consolidation each sensor.
The two companies will also jointly develop tactile sensing modules mounted on robot hands, arms, and bodies. These components detect contact and pressure and require an ultra-thin, flexible structure and precise signal-processing technology. LG Innotek will handle modularization and digital signal processing technologies, while TDK will handle tactile sensor technology.
TDK operates a robot development platform that integrates a 6-axis IMU, pressure and temperature sensors, microphones, and a time-of-flight (ToF) ultrasonic distance sensor. It is positioning physical AI as a key growth area of its sensor business and is expanding related investments.
LG Innotek began joint development last year with Boston Dynamics on a vision sensing system for the Humanoid Robot "Atlas." Starting this year, it began mass-producing sensing components for robots. With this collaboration with TDK, the company is expanding its product lineup beyond a robot's sight to include touch.
Moon Hyuk-soo, president of LG Innotek, said, "In the robot field, multi-sensing that combines multiple sensors will draw attention," and added, "By collaborating with TDK, we will advance core robot component technologies and accelerate our push into the physical AI market."