Beanbag-like robotic hand may simplify gripping

摘要

When researchers need a robot to perform gripping tasks, they generally rely on the human-like, multifingered hand. But this approach is computationally complex, requir ing controllable joints, force sensors, and visual feedback systems. To design a simpler universal gripper, Eric Brown et al. (pp. 18809-18814) replaced individual fingers with a rubber bag filled with small particles that molds around ob jects and then contracts and hardens when a weak vacuum is applied. The design eliminates the need for active control systems and allows the device to seamlessly switch between dissimilar objects, such as light bulbs, candies, small metal pieces, or raw eggs.