Universal Gripper: Shooting Hoops & Throwing Darts

Researchers at Cornell University and the University of Chicago have expanded the capabilities of their robot gripper invention.

The jamming gripper is essentially a latex balloon filled with granular material such as coffee grounds. Fill the balloon with air and the grounds conform to the shape of any object at hand. Pump air out of the balloon and the grounds jam into solid mass, enabling the gripper to hold tight to its object. Previously, the gripper could pick up a variety of multi-sized objects, pour a glass of water or write with a pen. Now, with the rapid re-inflation of the balloon, the gripper also can shoot miniature hoops, throw darts and go bowling.

UChicago physicists led by Heinrich Jaeger developed the concept of a conforming gripper based on the jamming and unjamming of granular material, while Cornell engineers led Hod Lipson invented the new functionalities and built the gripper prototypes.

(Video credit: John Amend and Hod Lipson, Cornell University)

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[Ben Pelcyger]

the story of a robot that can grasp anything...but love

[vp21ct]

This is how My Little Pony hooves work! :D

[speedstriker]

I would not want to play marbles against a robot with this hand. I'd loose all of my stash in no time!

[jeremiahebert1]

Because building a robot to separate bolts and springs is soooo much faster than doing yourself.

[redofsnake]

超可愛的肉球啦!!!! 

[DarkManEll]

That's good, but would he beat Phil Taylor?

[gzbpanick]

They didn't had to make more than one trial. Because they could weight every object it picked up and with these masses they could determine the amount of pressure needed for tossing an object. With those calculations they could than determine the initial conditions for throwing objects, thus getting the data of required angle and initial velocity. Simple example of projectile motion. Different conditions for different trajectories are needed. And distance is considered, as well.

[SappYoda]

So that's how Doraemon picked things up :)

[rexuzroma]

triple bullseye :)

[arierushinigami]

Doreamon is coming

[Bangon Kali]

director: cut! cut! cut!

assistant1: next try...

assistant2: ok, take 9867, lights, camera, actioN!