Loomia’s new Smart Skin Developer Kit is set to give robots a much-needed sense of touch. Developed with insights from over 100 engineers—from experts in industrial automation to professionals in medical devices—this tool emerged during the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps programme, addressing a real need for tactile sensors in robotic hands and grippers.
“We didn’t set out to build a robotics product,” says Maddy Maxey, Loomia’s founder. But in the process, she and her team discovered that the market was missing robust, adaptable sensors. Founded in 2014 as The Crated, Loomia has since become a leader in patented soft circuit systems, especially where standard printed circuit boards find it hard to cope.
Since 2018, Loomia has been exploring flexible tactile sensors—starting with a glove-based pressure matrix for industrial leader Festo. With over 1,000 sensors already shipped, the company has helped a range of industries prototype custom solutions with unique shapes and sensitivity requirements. If you’ve ever struggled with sensors that don’t quite fit your innovative design, you know just how valuable a more adaptable solution can be.
Robots can see, but they often struggle with the physical interaction part—resulting in dropped or over-gripped items. Cameras aren’t enough to solve this, which is why Loomia’s kit, featuring a three-finger sensing glove and capacitive sensors with exceptional sensitivity, is such a timely development. It even comes with visualisation software that works with Arduino, making integration straightforward.
Feedback gathered during detailed interviews under NSF guidance highlighted several challenges in robotics, including sensor drift, difficulties integrating rigid sensor formats, and initial testing setbacks. The insights were clear: teams prefer plug-and-play solutions that simplify the development process.
Priced at $4,900 with shipments starting on November 30, the kit leverages Loomia’s proprietary Electronic Layer (LEL) to maintain performance even when stretched or twisted. This means it can detect even feather-light touches—delivering the reliable, sensitive response that robotic hands have long needed.
For those working on the next generation of human-centric robotics, this Smart Skin Developer Kit offers a practical and effective pathway to improve tactile feedback. It’s a solid step toward ensuring that robots can interact with their environment just a little more like we do.
