As the tech titans and gadget gawkers descended upon CES 2026, all eyes ostensibly fixed on the next foldable phone or AI-powered toaster, a quiet revolution was unfolding in a corner. Sharpa’s North robot wasn’t busy performing a dance routine or serving lukewarm canapés; oh no, this plucky bot was expertly assembling a windmill, proving that sometimes, the real innovation happens when no one’s really looking.
Under the hood, or rather, powered by its rather snazzy CraftNet system, this mechanical marvel employs tactile feedback – essentially, giving a robot a sense of touch – to nail that notoriously tricky ’last-millimeter’ of manipulation. We’re talking about executing a 30-plus step task, all by its lonesome, with the sort of precision that would make a seasoned engineer weep tears of joy (or perhaps, fear for their job).
Turns out, while the rest of us were busy drooling over holographic projections and self-stirring coffee mugs, the genuine game-changer, the actual coup de grâce in robotic utility, was simply giving these metallic chaps a bit of ‘feel’. Who knew that the secret to a truly useful robot wasn’t more flash, but just a touch of finesse?
