Scientists have unveiled evidence suggesting humans possess a previously unrecognized sense, described as “remote touch,” which we share with certain birds. This study, conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and University College London (UCL), explored whether the sensitivity to subtle movements in materials, akin to that of shorebirds, is more prevalent in the animal kingdom.
The research centers on the ability of some shorebirds to detect prey buried beneath the sand, relying on minute shifts in sand grain movement. According to Elisabetta Versace, who leads the Prepared Minds Lab at Queen Mary University, “It’s the first time that remote touch has been studied in humans and it changes our conception of the perceptual world.”
To investigate this phenomenon, the researchers designed an experiment that simulated the foraging behavior of shorebirds. Participants used their fingers to sift through sand in search of a concealed cube, tasked with identifying its location before making physical contact. The findings revealed that humans could sense the presence of the cube with remarkable accuracy, achieving a success rate nearly double that of a robot equipped with a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm.
In the study, human participants managed to locate the cube within the “expected detectable range” with an accuracy of 70.7%, stopping within an average distance of 2.7 cm (approximately 1.06 inches) from the object. In contrast, the robot only achieved a success rate of 40%. These results provide compelling evidence that humans can indeed sense objects through a medium like sand, responding to subtle cues transmitted via pressure changes.
Implications for Robotics and Tactile Technology
The implications of this research extend beyond human perception. The findings could significantly enhance the development of robotic technologies and assistive devices. Zhengqi Chen, a researcher in the Advanced Robotics Lab at Queen Mary, emphasized the potential applications: “The discovery opens possibilities for designing tools and assistive technologies that extend human tactile perception.”
Such advancements could lead to robots capable of delicate operations, enabling them to locate archeological artifacts without causing damage or explore challenging terrains like Martian soil or the ocean floor. The research advocates for touch-based systems that improve safety and efficiency during exploration in hazardous environments.
While the study presents exciting possibilities, it acknowledges some limitations, including the controlled experimental design and the absence of mechanical analysis of the sand displacement during the sensing process. Nevertheless, the researchers view this as a starting point for further exploration with larger participant groups and varied mediums.
Collaboration Between Disciplines
The interdisciplinary nature of this research is noteworthy. Lorenzo Jamone, Associate Professor in Robotics & AI at UCL, remarked on the mutual benefits of the human and robotic studies. “The human experiments guided the robot’s learning approach, and the robot’s performance provided new perspectives for interpreting the human data.” This illustrates how the convergence of psychology, robotics, and artificial intelligence can lead to both fundamental discoveries and technological innovations.
The study was published in the IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL), marking a significant contribution to the understanding of human perception and its potential applications in technology. As this field of research progresses, it promises to unlock new dimensions in both human sensory capabilities and robotic development, paving the way for exciting advancements in how we interact with our environment.