Adaptive Gripper with Finger-Suction Hybrid Grasping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gripping systems lack intelligence in estimating object picking and holding positions, are restricted by object dimensions, and struggle with non-flat or rough-surfaced objects, particularly vacuum cup-based systems.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive gripper device equipped with fingers and suction cups, utilizing electronic devices and hardware processors to capture object information, determine optimal holding orientations and movements, and adjust finger and suction cup positions for secure grasping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional gripping systems with fixed fingers are used, then simple objects within gripping range can be picked, but the system lacks intelligence to estimate object picking positions and holding positions
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device captures real-time information about the object's position, shape, and surface quality. This feedback is processed by the hardware processor to intelligently determine optimal picking positions and holding positions, enabling the system to automatically adapt to different objects without manual programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces fixed mechanical finger positioning with an intelligent control system that uses electronic sensing and computational processing. The hardware processor calculates optimal gripping positions based on captured object information, substituting rigid mechanical design with adaptive computational intelligence.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum cup-based gripping systems are used, then objects with various dimensions can be gripped, but the system requires flat or smooth surfaces and cannot handle rough surfaced objects
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping system dynamically adjusts its mode based on real-time surface detection. When the electronic device detects a rough surface, the system transitions from relying solely on vacuum suction to combining vacuum pressure with mechanical finger grip, ensuring reliable holding across different surface conditions while maintaining dimensional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping system uses a composite approach combining two different gripping mechanisms: vacuum cups and mechanical fingers. By integrating both methods, the system leverages the advantages of each - vacuum cups for smooth surfaces and dimensional handling, and fingers for rough surfaces - creating a hybrid system that overcomes the limitations of either method alone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The gripper device intelligently adjusts to various object shapes and surfaces, ensuring firm grip and preventing objects from falling during movement, overcoming limitations of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
Other types of gripping systems are vacuum cups based which pick and place objects where they can handle multidimensional objects.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gripper device and method is provided. The method includes capturing, using an electronic device, information of an object that is indicative of holding position; determining, using the information, by a hardware processor, an optimal holding orientation and an optimal movement of at least one of (i) a plurality of fingers, or (ii) a plurality of suction cups of a gripper device; identifying the at least one of (i) the plurality of fingers, and (ii) the plurality of suction cups as one or more grasping components based on the information, the optimal holding orientation and the optimal movement; and enabling, using an actuator, the one or more identified grasping components to grasp the object based on the information, the optimal holding orientation and the optimal movement.