Viam + MongoDB hackathon · Oct 29–30, 2026

Feels: Teaching a robot to feel

Online data collection and training platform for robot object classification through physical interaction.

Sree Dhyuti Nimmagadda, Ariel Anders

lift swirl predict

Measured results: 86–89% empty detection

Code Hugging Face Dataset

Feels in 30 seconds: lift, swirl, predict — from motor torques alone.

Signature space

110 taught signatures projected to 2-D via PCA, colored by material.

Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Screws Screws Screws Screws Screws Screws Screws Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Solid Weight Water Water Water Water Water Water Water Candy Water PC1 → ↑ PC2 materials (n=110) Water ×46 Solid Weight ×39 Screws ×7 Candy ×1 Empty ×17