Humanoid
Materials company Uni-Chem Co. has acquired flexible electronics maker Loomia Technologies Inc. to enter the market for electronic skin for humanoids, as well as interior materials for smart mobility. The acquisition positions Uni-Chem to supply key components for next-generation physical AI projects, including humanoid robots.
Loomia, founded in 2014 by Stanford University graduate Madison Maxey, is based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Its proprietary LEL (Loomia Electronic Layer) technology enables flexible bonding of electronic circuits to cloth and leather, overcoming the disconnection issue during bending that plagues traditional printed electronics. Loomia’s Smart Skin Tactile Sensing Dev Kit includes both capacitive and force-sensitive resistor sensors.
Based on our strong manufacturing foundry partnership with R&Y, we aim to establish a foothold for targeting the North American market and concentrate our company-wide capabilities to ensure that Unichem’s smart materials are incorporated as key components into the next-generation physical AI projects of leading global tech companies.
Loomia previously partnered with R&Y Corp. to jointly develop and mass-produce next-generation tactile sensors for robots. The company is a member of the National Science Foundation’s Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity Engineering Research Center (HAND ERC), a tactile sensing consortium that also includes Meta and Amazon Robotics. Last year, Loomia launched its first tactile sensing developer kit, which is currently sold out. The company has worked with industrial automation and robotic hand provider Festo, and says it is making tactile sensors more affordable.
Source: The Robot Report