A robot that can only control position will press as hard as needed to reach a target, which is fine against a rigid stop but ruinous for a fragile object or a human hand. Force and torque sensing lets a robot feel how hard it is pushing and respond.
With this sense, a robot can insert a part until it seats, polish a surface with steady pressure, or stop the instant it meets unexpected resistance. It turns blind, rigid motion into something closer to touch, which is essential wherever a robot contacts the delicate or the unpredictable.