Metal measuring tape is an fascinating materials, in that it is inflexible sufficient to carry its form when prolonged, however versatile sufficient that it offers approach underneath stress. Scientists have taken benefit of that twin nature in a intelligent new robotic gripper designed for dealing with fragile objects.
Created by Assoc. Prof. Nick Gravish and colleagues at UC San Diego, the mechanical appendage is named “GRIP-tape,” the phrase GRIP standing for “Greedy and Rolling In-Aircraft.” It grasps objects of assorted sizes and shapes between two grippy however compliant triangular fingers.
Every of these fingers is made from a few lengths of measuring tape that are laid lengthwise one on high of the opposite, and adhesive-taped collectively in that configuration … so that they kind a single two-layered ribbon that is bent/buckled on the tip of the finger. Two motorized reels – one at both finish of that ribbon – roll it in and spool it out as wanted.
A New Robotic Gripper Primarily based on Measuring Tape is Sizing Up Fruit and Veggie Choosing
By various the path wherein every of the 4 reels (two per finger) rotate relative to at least one one other, the fingers might be made longer or shorter, they will rotate an merchandise grasped between them, or they will draw that merchandise in or out, conveyor-belt-style. The whole gripper can even roll backward and forward and tilt up and down, swiveling on its robotic wrist.
It’s hoped that after the expertise is developed additional, it could possibly be utilized in fields akin to agriculture, for selecting vegetables and fruit with out damaging them. In truth, UCLA’s EEWOC (Prolonged-reach Enhanced Wheeled Orb for Climbing) robotic already makes use of a measuring-tape-based magnetic limb for climbing metallic constructions.
UC San Diego
”We prefer to search for non-traditional, non-intuitive robotic mechanisms,” says Gravish. “The tape measure is such an exquisite construction due to its mixed softness and stiffness collectively.”
A paper on the examine was just lately revealed within the journal Science Advances.
Supply: College of California, San Diego