Soft Robotic Gripper Uses Static Electricity

Feb-04-16 A soft robotic gripper that relies on static electricity to grip objects is able to gently handle delicate or oddly shaped items.

Developed by at team from Ecole Polytechnique Fedéral de Lausanne (EPFL), the gripper feature five ‘fingers’ made from flaps of layered material. The material, which consists of different layers of silicon, a flexible electrode and an elastomer, will react when a current is sent though it by bending inward. When the current is stopped, the material will relax and bend outward. For added grip, the electrode tips have been designed with a pattern that will increase electrostatic attraction.

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