@AuManufacturing Conversations

@AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski is a regular interview program, bringing you discussions with the men and women who are contributing to a critical part of the economy -- one that leads private sector R&D investment, employs well over a million Australians, and is just plain important to have around, as we’ve all been reminded in recent years. We hope to capture something of the variety to manufacturing, its place in the nation, its changing nature, and some of the personalities within it. From the boutique to the billion dollar, if it's manufacturing and it's Australian, then it likely matters to us. This podcast is an extension of the @AuManufacturing news and analysis website and the community around it, and aims to complement what's written online at www.aumanufacturing.com.au.

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@AuManufacturing Conversations

Episode 88 -- Dr Heba Khamis from Contactile

March 09, 2024 • @AuManufacturing • Season 3 • Episode 10

Welcome to this special episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, one which we're running as part of our quest to identify Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers.

The 50 Most Innovative is an annual campaign by @AuManufacturing. This time around it has been made possible through the generous support of MYOB, CSIRO, the NSW government’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility, and the Commonwealth Bank.

In this episode we hear from Dr Heba Khamis, co-founder and CEO at sensor startup Contactile. She tells us about the company’s novel approach to making robots less clumsy, where they’ve seen the most interest from, the difficulties of finding the right silicone manufacturer, and more.

Episode guide

0:55 – origin story stuff.

2:20 – Investigating the possibility of commercialisation via accelerators. “We didn’t realise how naive we were until we’d done those programs.”

4:15 – The optical-based sensors and how they work.

4:42 – Some different ways that tracking light is used.

5:38 – Why slipperiness is important to the Contactile’s approach to sensing.

6:40 – How dexterity is useful and how others have tried to replicate it.

7:30 – What vision-based sensing misses.

8:47 – Not a lot of groups developing tactile sensors.

10:52 – On dexterity’s two components: mechanics and sensing.

11:45 – Warehouse environments and questions about why humanoid robots are the best choice for these.

12:49 – Current products.