Thinker Inc.

Thinker Inc. is a robotics company based in Osaka, Japan, that develops pre-touch sensing for robot hands. Its Pre-Touch Sensor TK-01 lets a robot hand perceive the distance and shape of an object without relying on vision or touch. The company says this allows robot hands to recognize objects that are hard for cameras and conventional optical sensors. The addresses listed on its site are in Osaka and Nara.

Sensing for robot hands

The TK-01 contains an infrared diffuse emitter and receiver. It measures the distance and shape of an object in detail and with high accuracy, which allows it to capture shapes in blind spots and detect mirror surfaces and transparent materials. The company notes that these tasks have been considered major challenges in robot manipulation. By handling transparent, mirrored and unsorted items, the sensor is intended to widen the work robot hands can take on in new applications and at new work sites.

Teaching and setup

• Simpler teaching: rough teaching is enough because the fingertip position can be fine-tuned to the situation, according to the company.
• Less workload: the company says this reduces the effort of system integrators and on-site workers who set up robot hands.
• Faster changeovers: shorter time to switch settings when a line must accommodate several product types and shape variations.
• Requests: the site invites consultation requests and purchase orders for its products and services.

Company profile

The site gives the company's capital as 420 million yen, including capital surplus. Its co-founder and chief executive, Koyama Keisuke, is an assistant professor at Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering Science. The company describes its aim as moving robots from tools toward living entities that can perceive and judge objects on their own.

Key facts

• Based in: Osaka, Japan
• Products: Pre-Touch Sensor TK-01