Title

Humanizing Artificial Touch

About the Speaker

Prof. John-John Cabibihan

John-John Cabibihan is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University. He was previously an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore from 2008 to 2013. He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering, with specialization in Biorobotics, from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy, in 2007. During his Ph.D. studies, he was awarded a fellowship under a cotutelle Ph.D. program at École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, France, in 2004-2005, where he worked on soft materials at

Abstract

How can robots truly connect with people through touch? This talk presents designs of artificial tactile systems inspired by the human sense of touch, feedback, and perception. This talk will present a brief overview of work on artificial skins, tactile sensing, and robotic hands that can replicate some of the critical functions of the human hand, with applications in both humanoid robotics and upper-limb prosthetics. Through real-world demonstrations, this talk will show how these technologies enable more natural, meaningful, and emotionally engaging interactions between humans and machines. This talk includes selected insights from Prof. Cabibihan's book, Humanizing Artificial Touch: Skin, Sensing, and Structures (Elsevier, 2026) and field experience working with amputees from conflict-affected settings.

Host

Prof. Hongliang Ren

Date & Time

July 29, 2026, Wednesday,

10:00am-12:00pm

Venue

Room B401, Shenzhen Loop Area Institute

(6 Hongmian Rd, Fubao Sub-Street, Futian District, Shenzhen, navigate to "Shenzhen Loop Area Institute (South Gate)" on the map.)

Online link

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