1. A robotic system comprising a robot having a movable robot part for handling an object, a tactile sensor incorporated in said part so as to generate an electrical signal in response to forces applied thereto by said object, and means responsive to said signal for controlling said movable robot part, said tactile sensor comprising an array of tactile elements each of which includes a layer of a compliant medium, means forming a magnetic dipole embedded in said medium, and adjacent said dipole a plurality of magnetoresistive sensors oriented at essentially 90.degree. to one another and at essentially 45.degree. to said dipole.