Chinese scientists have created a manipulator whose design resembles an animal limbs. The study was published in the AIP Publishing magazine.
Shanghai University specialists recalled that many animals are including a person – can raise and move fragile items without approving them harm. In neat manipulation with objects, it helps the balance between force and flexibility. Based on the octopus tental, the trunk of an elephant and other extremities of animals was designed by a robor. The project was turned into a real prototype.
The invention is described as a multi-segment soft manipulator on the pneumatic plates, which are elastomeric structures with a pneumatic drive. The tentacles consist of two fragments – one of them is hard, and another elastic. A special mechanism pumps air that places a soft chamber, forcing the roboruk to shrink stronger.
“We developed soft manipulators using a mathematical model that can follow a certain three-dimensional spatial trajectory,” said Dong Van research. The robot itself chooses the degree of pressure, determining it depending on the strength of the subject. According to Vana, the robot is gradually learning, which allows it to operate in a large number of fragile items.
Previously, Stanford specialists created a strong roboruk on the basis of a gecko paw to move fragile items. Special rubber leather, which is covered with manipulators, almost sticks to the load without applying damage.