A new humanoid robot named Gene.01 debuted at AMD’s Advancing AI conference in San Francisco, featuring a layer of external sensors on its arm called “smart skin.” The robot has two different types of sensors: touch sensors that detect when the robot is being touched, precisely where, and how much force is being applied, and proximity sensors, called “time-of-flight” or ToF sensors, that detect when someone or something is close but not touching it. Embedded touch and proximity sensors prevent collisions and enable gentle interactions, potentially allowing robots to work more closely with people. Generative Bionics, the maker of Gene.01, is working on applying this sensory data to real-time decision-making. The company sees Gene.01 as a first step toward making humanoids custom-made to the specific needs of their clients, with the amount and location of “smart skin” and type of hands depending on the robot’s intended work.