Magnetic Elastic Robot Hand for Precise Object Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot hand apparatuses struggle to accurately pick up specific objects from densely arranged products without also picking up adjacent items due to size mismatch between the suction surface and the object's sucked surface.
Innovation Solution
A robot hand apparatus featuring a bendable sucking surface with a magnetic elastic body and a magnetic-field generator that adjusts the coefficient of elasticity, allowing the sucking surface to be bent at specific positions to match the object's size, preventing the distal end from protruding and enabling precise object pickup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sucking surface of the suction hand is used to pick up objects from densely arranged products, then the robot hand can grasp objects using negative pressure, but the target object and adjacent products are sucked together when the sucked surface is smaller than the sucking surface
Solution Approach 1:
The sucking surface is made bendable by incorporating a magnetic elastic body that changes its coefficient of elasticity in response to magnetic field application. This allows the sucking surface to dynamically adjust its shape and effective area to match the size of different objects being picked up, preventing adjacent products from being accidentally grasped while maintaining reliable pickup of the target object
Solution Approach 2:
The coefficient of elasticity of the magnetic elastic body is changed by applying a magnetic field, which transforms the sucking surface from a rigid fixed-size configuration to a flexible adaptive configuration. This parameter change enables the sucking surface to conform to objects of varying sizes, resolving the contradiction between pickup accuracy and adaptability
2Reliability
If the sucking surface is made larger to ensure full contact with the object, then the object can be securely held, but adjacent products are also picked up together
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic elastic body allows different regions of the sucking surface to have different degrees of flexibility and contact pressure. When picking up an object, only the necessary portion of the sucking surface makes contact and exerts holding force, while other regions remain inactive. This local differentiation ensures stable holding of the target object without accidentally grasping adjacent products
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sucking surface is made bendable to adapt to object size, then precise pickup is possible, but the structure becomes more complex with magnetic elastic body and magnetic-field generator
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional mechanical bending mechanisms (such as hinges, springs, or actuators) are replaced with a magnetic field-based system. The magnetic elastic body responds to magnetic field application by changing its elasticity, providing a non-mechanical means to achieve bending and shape adjustment. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining adaptability
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 solution allows for correct and stable pickup of target objects from densely arranged products by adjusting the sucking surface's size and shape, ensuring accurate grasping without picking up adjacent items.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic-field generator that is arranged at the holder and that applies a magnetic field to the magnetic elastic body to change a coefficient of elasticity of the magnetic elastic body
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic elastic body arranged at the holder and formed of an elastic material containing magnetic particles
Implementation Method 3
a suction hand having a sucking surface formed with sucking holes. The sucking surface of the suction hand can suck an object using negative pressure by sucking air through the sucking holes
Data Source
AI summary
A robot hand apparatus includes a holder having a bendable sucking surface that sucks an object; a magnetic elastic body arranged at the holder and formed of an elastic material containing magnetic particles; and a magnetic-field generator that is arranged at the holder and applies a magnetic field to the magnetic elastic body to change a coefficient of elasticity of the magnetic elastic body. When the magnetic-field generator applies a magnetic field to the magnetic elastic body, a flexible portion and a hardened portion having a bigger coefficient of elasticity than that of the flexible portion are formed in the magnetic elastic body. When the holder holds the object, in a state in which the sucking surface is bent at a position corresponding to the flexible portion, a region of the sucking surface between the position and a distal end of the holder sucks the object.