XELA Robotics Co., Ltd.
"Physical AI with a Human Touch"
Tokyo tactile sensor company spun from Waseda University, making uSkin 3-axis sensors and uAi software that give robots a human-like sense of touch.
XELA Robotics Co., Ltd. is a Japanese robotics component company founded in August 2018 as a spin-out from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. The company develops high-density 3-axis tactile sensors and companion software designed to enable robots to detect and process physical contact in real time, combining more than 70 years of accumulated academic research in robotics and tactile sensing.
The flagship product line is the uSkin sensor family. These sensors are thin, flexible patches that can be mounted on robotic fingers, palms, and grippers. Each sensing point measures force in three axes—normal (Z) and two shear axes (X, Y)—allowing detection of both pressure magnitude and direction. The sensors achieve high spatial density and are hardware-agnostic, fitting standard connector interfaces used by leading gripper and robotic hand manufacturers. XELA announced a 2026 technology roadmap targeting approximately 40 percent reduction in sensing-point pitch to achieve finer texture and slip detection.
The uAi software platform connects directly to uSkin sensors for real-time visualization, calibration, and force compensation. It provides data streams and APIs that robotics engineers can integrate into machine learning pipelines for tactile object recognition, slip detection, and adaptive grasping.
Commercial integrations are available for gripper and hand products from Robotiq (Hand-E and 2F-85), Wonik Robotics, Weiss Robotics, Tesollo, and the LEAP Hand research platform. By January 2026, XELA had announced an integration milestone demonstrating its sensors functioning across both humanoid and industrial robot platforms.
Target application sectors include industrial manufacturing assembly, logistics and warehousing, agriculture, and research. The company is headquartered at NSKK Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, and employs fewer than 15 people. Alexander Schmitz is co-founder, and Valentino Fagard joined as COO in December 2024. In November 2024 the company received angel investment led by Rogers Investment Advisors to support global expansion.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
uSkin Patch Sensor
High-density 3-axis tactile sensor patch for mounting on robotic fingers and grippers.
uSkin for Hand-E
Pre-integrated tactile sensing kit for Robotiq Hand-E and 2F gripper families.
Contact XELA Robotics Co., Ltd.
WEBSITE
https://xela-robotics.comPHONE
+81-3-6273-9827 / +81-80-8530-8855HEADQUARTERS
Japan
Company Facts
Founded
2018
Primary Role
Component Supplier
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Asia-Pacific
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
XELA Robotics Launches Next-Gen Tactile Sensors at Automate 2026
XELA Robotics unveiled five major uSkin® tactile sensor advances at Automate 2026 — including a force-sensitive nail fingertip, UMI AI integration, and fragile object handling. Full product report by RobotToday.com.
Laboratory Robotics in 2026: Technology, Companies & Vertical Maturity
From clinical diagnostics to self-driving labs: a deep analysis of laboratory robotics technologies, mass-production maturity timelines across 12 vertical sectors, 26 key companies, and the investment landscape shaping lab automation through 2030.
Vision-Based Tactile Sensing: The Race to Build What Tesla's Optimus Needs
Vision-based tactile sensing (VBT) is emerging as the critical missing piece for Tesla Optimus dexterous hands. This briefing covers the technology, six global milestones, a ten-company competitive landscape, and the Chinese startup ecosystem — including PaXini, Daimon Robotics, DouDong, WeiTi and QianJue.
