MIT's X-Hinges software lets 3D-printed objects sense touch

Researchers at MIT CSAIL and Tianjin University built X-Hinges, a design tool that automatically embeds sensors into 3D-printed objects and prints them with two conductive filaments. The resulting parts detect pressing, pinching and bending and respond in real time, from a glove that teaches a robot to a foldable lamp.

• Two conductive filaments are printed at once: one senses strain, the other carries signals
• Up to three motion types are supported at once: lengthwise squeeze and two bend directions
• A post-print computer-vision step recalibrates sensors to match identical copies
• Prototypes include a robot-training glove, a foldable lamp and a shark-shaped controller