Gripping, holding, and releasing or placing objects are key activities of robots and other automated grippers used in production and assembly processes. As we've discussed before, some gripping devices use different versions of an exohand for precise movements, while other devices are more generalized, universalized grippers.
Festo used biomimicry as inspiration for different energy-efficient methods in the new NanoForceGripper and the PowerGripper, which is still a research project.
When it comes to the ratio of gripping force to weight, conventional grippers aren't always very energy efficient. But lots of efficient gripping strategies exist in nature. Festo set up its Bionic Learning Network to adapt the energy-efficient principles already found in nature to automation technology. The goal is to decrease industrial energy consumption by exploiting the potential of automated production processes. The network includes universities, institutes, and development companies that cooperate with Festo's engineers to foster research applying principles in nature to technology and industrial uses.
The PowerGripper, which mimics a bird's beak, employs Watt's linkage as a motion principle. It also uses Festo's fluidic muscle, a new type of pneumatic drive that enables motion sequences approaching human movement. The NanoForceGripper, not pictured, is modeled on a gecko's feet and is designed to grip very delicate objects with smooth surfaces, such as glasses or displays, using almost no energy. (Source: Festo)
Both the NanoForceGripper, which is modeled on the way geckos grip surfaces, and the PowerGripper, which mimics the mechanisms a bird's beak uses for grasping, originated in this network. Both devices are small and lightweight and have high gripping force-to-weight ratios.
The NanoForceGripper is designed to grip very delicate objects with smooth surfaces, such as glasses or displays, using almost no energy. The suction cup-like components are modeled on the pads of a gecko's feet. This technology complements pneumatic gripping technology. The Gecko Nanoplast tape on the gripper's underside has 29,000 gripping elements per cm2. Once an object has been gripped, the gripper continues to hold it without requiring energy, due to intermolecular van der Waals attraction forces. Previously, this type of energy-free holding of objects was not possible.
One of the subtle effects (I think) appears that the gripping motion closes with a variable force. It appeared as if the closing motion commenced with a quick snap shut, but slowed to a less forceful, yet sufficiently firm grip on the target, so as to ensure handling without crushing. Might have been neat to see them pick up an egg, for example.
I was also surprised to find out how many different innovative projects Festo has done in biomimicry, many of them robotic, such as the AquaPenguin and Aqua Jelly in our Nautical Robot slideshow:
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=246206&image_number=1
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=246206&image_number=2
In this case, the idea of the grippers is better energy-efficiency, with high gripping force-to-weight ratios, so there's less wasted motion.
Festo seems to be doing a lot of great things with biomickry and design. This is a pretty interesting interpretation of bringing animal-like movements to a gripping type of robot. Is the idea that the robot machinery gains dexterity because of this motion?
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