Metal measuring tape is an fascinating materials, in that it is inflexible sufficient to carry its form when prolonged, however versatile sufficient that it provides method below strain. Scientists have taken benefit of that twin nature in a intelligent new robotic gripper designed for dealing with fragile gadgets.
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 styles between two grippy however compliant triangular fingers.
Every of these fingers is manufactured 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 type 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 Selecting
By various the path by which every of the 4 reels (two per finger) rotate relative to 1 one other, the fingers may be made longer or shorter, they’ll rotate an merchandise grasped between them, or they’ll draw that merchandise in or out, conveyor-belt-style. The whole gripper may also roll back and forth and tilt up and down, swiveling on its robotic wrist.
It’s hoped that when the expertise is developed additional, it may very well be utilized in fields reminiscent of agriculture, for selecting vegatables and fruits with out damaging them. In actual fact, UCLA’s EEWOC (Prolonged-reach Enhanced Wheeled Orb for Climbing) robotic already makes use of a measuring-tape-based magnetic limb for climbing steel buildings.
UC San Diego
”We prefer to search for non-traditional, non-intuitive robotic mechanisms,” says Gravish. “The tape measure is such a beautiful construction due to its mixed softness and stiffness collectively.”
A paper on the examine was lately revealed within the journal Science Advances.
Supply: College of California, San Diego
