ROSE can pick up all sorts of objects, even if the sleeve is damaged. (Image Credit: JSAID)
Robots must be more careful while grasping brittle objects to avoid damaging them, and one way to do that involves a special gripper integration. JSAIT researchers have been developing a ROtation-based-Squeezing grippEr (ROSE) that can handle objects with more delicacy. The gripper could be used across various fields, including agriculture, for harvesting crops.
The team's rose-inspired gripper features a cone-shaped sleeve attached to a firm circular base that connects to an electric actuator. This actuator causes the sleeve and base to spin. The sleeve wraps around an object whenever ROSE lifts it, causing most of the elastomer to secure around each side. Then, the base rotates, and the sleeve gently crumples and wraps around this object. Rotating the sleeve in the other direction allows it to open again, and in response, the gripper can lift, move, and release the object.
The design concept for the ROSE gripper. (Image Credit: JSAIT)
"Soft robot hands, such as those that mimic traditional people's fingers, require producer attitude control, but ROSE robot hands allow large-range contact and closed structures to hold grasp of various objects。 In particular, experimental has shown that traditional robot hands can hold grammatically oil-soaked objects that were difficult," they wrote.
The team claims ROSE is less costly to manufacture compared to existing soft grippers. And since it applies gentle pressure, the gripper can lift many different objects. They also demonstrated its durability in experiments, proving that it can still operate even after 400,000 gripping movements and lifts objects if the sleeve gets torn.
"Here, as a product/service assumed by this proposal technology, we list two things: First, it is a robot that replaces harvesting work without choosing a fruit type。 Second, it is a life-supporting care robot that improves the caregiver's QOL (Quality of life). Based on the versatility of this proposal technology, we expect to promote the spread of soft robot hands by providing these products and new services in a wide range of fields," the team wrote.
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