Robotic AI Skin Announced as Finalist in Australia's First Robotics Sprint

SYDNEY, NSW - Robotic AI Skin has been selected as one of six finalists in the inaugural Propel-AIR program, Australia's first dedicated AI and Robotics Sprint.

Inneurva, the Sydney medtech and robotics startup behind the innovation, will now compete for the opportunity to travel to Boston and work alongside MassRobotics.

Teaching Machines to Feel
Inneurva is developing flexible, intelligent artificial skin that brings a sense of touch to robots through soft, sensor-rich patches that can be attached to robotic grippers, humanoid robots, or even clothing.

"We want to give AI the intelligence of touch. With Robotic AI Skin, robots can feel what they touch and respond accordingly, whether it's identifying a person, checking body temperature, or assessing the ripeness of fruit," said founder Tass Paritt.

Inneurva Founder Tass Parritt

"The CEO of NVIDIA  Jensen Huang recently spoke about the arrival of physical AI, a new generation of artificial intelligence that doesn't just see or hear, but actually feels the world around it. Our project is part of that movement. We are not just teaching machines to think, we're teaching them to feel."

The technology captures complex tactile information including pressure, temperature, and gesture recognition, using embedded AI to interpret and respond in real time. This enables safer, more intuitive interactions between humans and machines.

Modular Technology with Wide Applications
The sensor patch can be applied to robotic grippers, humanoid limbs, or worn as smart fabric. It allows machines to recognise who is touching them, detect how something is touched, and learn and adapt to the meaning of those interactions.

Applications range from healthcare robots and eldercare assistants to industrial automation and agriculture. Robots equipped with Robotic AI Skin could detect the ripeness of fruit during picking or monitor human health indicators during physical interaction.

Strong Research Foundation
 

Robotic AI Skin is backed by foundational IP and supported through collaborations with CSIRO, University of Technology Sydney, and a UK-based university research partner. The team has received early-stage funding and support from Microsoft's Startup Hub.

With backing from Microsoft's Startup Hub, the team is exploring the creation of a "tactile language model" using synthetic data, an emerging field that parallels large language models but for physical sensation.

Commercial Pathways
The company aims to explore multiple pathways to commercialisation including OEM partnerships with robotics manufacturers, licensing of core tactile sensing IP and AI models, and custom development for medtech and assistive robotics.

"Touch is the missing piece in robotics. We want to make it easy to embed tactile intelligence into any device so robots can understand us better and act more safely," Paritt said.

The team is currently building an MVP with plans to deliver a functional prototype within six months. Through Propel-AIR, Inneurva will focus on simulation testing and refining product-market fit.

The winner will travel to MassRobotics in Boston for a one-month residency, with access to leading robotics companies and world-class institutions like MIT and Harvard.

ENDS

About Robotic AI Skin Robotic AI Skin is a pioneering project from Australian medtech and robotics startup Inneurva, founded by Tass Paritt. Inneurva is developing flexible, intelligent artificial skin that brings a sense of touch to robots for safer, more intuitive human-machine interactions.

Media Contacts: 

Tass Paritt Founder, Inneurva / Robotic AI Skin 
Email: [email protected] 

Angela Reed, ARM Hub Director Marketing and Memberships 
E: [email protected]