Fiber Optic Robotic Grippers for In-Situ Material Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic gripping devices lack the capability for in-situ and pre-grasp object identification, particularly in soft robotics, where they struggle to differentiate between material categories and understand material properties of grasped objects.
Innovation Solution
A robotic gripper with embedded fiber optic cables that measure reflected light from grasped objects, using a system comprising a gripping element, light source, probe element, spectrometer, and processor to analyze spectral data and determine material properties through machine learning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If robotic gripping devices use traditional sensing methods, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision for material identification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds fiber optic cables, light sources, and spectral sensors directly within the gripper fingers, nesting multiple functional components inside the gripping structure. This allows material identification capabilities to be integrated into the gripper without requiring separate external sensing systems, thereby improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through compact integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical gripping, illumination, spectral measurement, and material identification. By integrating light sources and fiber optic sensors into the gripper structure, the same device serves both manipulation and analytical purposes, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If robotic gripping devices embed fiber optic sensors and light sources, then measurement precision for spectral analysis improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places light sources and fiber optic sensors at specific locations within the gripper fingers where they can directly interact with the grasped object. This localized arrangement ensures high-quality spectral measurements at the point of contact while avoiding unnecessary components in other parts of the system, thereby improving spectral data accuracy without uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines illumination functions and spectral sensing functions into a single integrated probe structure. By merging the light source, optical fiber, and sensor into one compact assembly that is embedded in the gripper, the system achieves high spectral measurement precision while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through functional integration.
3Productivity
If robotic gripping devices use embedded fiber optic cables for spectral measurement, then productivity through automated material sorting improves, but loss of substance through equipment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical material identification methods (such as physical tagging or manual inspection) with optical spectroscopy using fiber optic cables. This substitution enables automated, non-contact material characterization that significantly improves sorting productivity. Although the initial equipment cost is higher, the system eliminates the need for manual labor and accelerates processing speed, providing long-term productivity gains that offset the initial investment.
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
Enables better handling and sorting of objects by identifying material categories and properties without direct contact, facilitating faster and more accurate material analysis, reducing the need for lab testing and human labor.
Implementation Method 1
The probe element may include an optical fiber, which may be configured to transmit reflected light from the object
Implementation Method 2
The lens may be configured to focus light reflected from the object onto the reflector and into the optical fiber
Implementation Method 3
The spectrometer may be configured to: (i) receive the transmitted reflected light from the optical fiber and (ii) generate spectral data based on the received transmitted reflected light
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include systems for determining one or more properties of an object. In an embodiment, a system includes a gripping element, a light source, a probe element including an optical fiber, a spectrometer, and a processor. The gripping element is configured to grasp the object. The light source is configured to illuminate the object. The probe element is operatively coupled to the gripping element. The optical fiber is configured to transmit reflected light from the object. The spectrometer configured to: (i) receive the transmitted reflected light from the optical fiber and (ii) generate spectral data based on the received transmitted reflected light. The processor is configured to: (i) receive the generated spectral data from the spectrometer and (ii) determine one or more properties of the object based on the received generated spectral data.