Robots Getting a Grip with Electroadhesive Fingers
A new technology allows robots to manipulate varied and delicate objects
grippers
How-To: Build a Room-Sized Skill Crane
In the latest version of his DIY skill crane, Marc has added a third dimension, expanded the crane’s envelope to cover an entire room, and upgraded the business end with a SparkFun robotic claw. A universal TV remote serves as controller, communicating by IR with Arduinos in each of the two big motor housings.
Print-and-Fold Robot Parts
This video has been released to promote a new university research initiative between MIT, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania aiming to develop a rapid manufacturing system for one-off problem-solving robots. Seems like an ambitious program, to me, but I like the idea of using fold-up papercraft chassis parts for prototyping or short operational life designs.
Balloon Gripper with Positive Pressure Mode Can “Shoot” as Well as Grab
Last March, roboticist Eric Brown and co-workers at the University of Chicago made headlines with their new, unconventional robot gripper design: a balloon filled with coffee grounds or other grainy material and fitted with a vacuum line. At atmospheric pressure, the balloon is squishy and can be “mushed” around an object—even traditionally hard-to-grip stuff like […]
Printable Tentacle Parts
The printable ball-and-socket unit that makes up this tentacle is really just a prototype in the early development of Thingiverse user Misguided’s not-so-misguided (if we may offer a bit of encouragement) project to develop a printable tentacle actuator. Everything about his description makes me happy, so I’ll just quote it entirely…
