Optical sensor system measures force and depth simultaneously for medical and robotic applications

A new optical sensor system can simultaneously measure ultra-precise force and depth. This breakthrough is expected to advance medical procedures and precision robotics. The system combines principles from optical coherence tomography and Fabry–Pérot interferometry. Experiments on a pig eye demonstrated accurate depth and force detection during needle insertion. This lightweight, fiber optics-based sensor is more practical than previous technologies. Future applications include surgical devices and robotic tactile sensors.