There are robot hands that can pick up heavy objects or delicate objects, but rarely does a single robot hand does both. Researchers have now found a solution to this problem by removing hands altogether.
Researchers from MIT have created a tulip-shaped gripper robot that can grab fragile objects like a grape without harming them and also objects 100 times its weight despite of their odd shape.
The gripper revolves around a 3D-printed origami structure made out of plastic that can fold on itself at high temperatures. It can effectively adapt to the shape of whatever object the robot is grabbing without compromising its strength.
Through vacuum power, the gripper keeps objects firmly in place and an airtight skin made out of fabric or a rubber balloon gives it a better gripping surface. Underneath the rubber skin is an origami skeleton that is shaped similar to a starfish. As the gas is pumped out or pumped in, the whole device opens and closes just like a flower, described The Verge.
This robot can have many potential uses to pick up variety of things. For instance, a medical robot can grab delicate tissue or even the entire patient, whereas a warehouse robot has easily pick up orders and ready them for delivery.
However, despite its pros, there are also certain cons of the robot. The shape lends itself best to grabbing round objects such as fruit or bottles, and preferably solid items. However, it tends to have problems with flat objects such as books and the suction won’t help when objects have holes in them, reported Engadget.
Researcher Daniela Rus told The Verge, “By combining this foldable skeleton with the soft exterior, we get the best of both worlds. I’m excited about using such a robot hand to start grasping groceries.”