Festo_TentacleGripper_en

01: Safe overall system: The flexible gripper on the BionicMotionRobot 02: Technical implementation: The in- side of the artificial tentacle 03: Natural model: The free-moving ten- tacles on the octopus 04: Wide range of uses: The flexible gripper on the BionicCobot TentacleGripper Bionic gripper for soft robotics Picking up, holding and putting down workpieces – gripping appli- cations have always played a key role in production. At the forefront of industrial automation, Festo is therefore constantly on the look- out for new gripping principles and innovative approaches to solu- tions for the production systems in the factory of tomorrow. One source of inspiration for new knowledge and future tech- nologies is nature. That is why Festo brought the Bionic Learning Network to life. In an alliance with international universities, in- stitutes and development companies, Festo has already studied a range of different grip mechanisms on several occasions using biology as a model. Flexible tentacles made of silicone Festo now presents a bionic gripper called the TentacleGripper, which is derived from an octopus tentacle. The gripper consists of a soft silicone structure, which can be pneumatically controlled. If compressed air is applied to it, the tentacle bends inwards and can wrap around the respective item which is being gripped in a form- fitting and gentle manner. Unique combination of force fitting and vacuum Just as with its natural model, two rows of suction cups are arranged on the inside of the silicone tentacle. Whilst the small suction cups on the end of the gripper work passively, the larger ones are connected to a vacuum line and can be actively controlled during the gripping process. As soon as the pneumatic tentacle wraps around the object, a vacuum is applied at the suction cups, making the object ad- here securely to the gripper. This means that the TentacleGripper can pick up and hold a variety of different shapes. Safe soft robotic components Thanks to its soft silicone structure, the artificial tentacle is not only able to grip in a gentle and form-fitting manner, however. As the other materials installed in the structure are also elastic and deformable, the gripper poses no danger to the user in direct contact. The TentacleGripper thus even fulfils the high require- ments of soft robotics and can be used without hesitation for working immediately with humans. For this purpose, Festo is testing the TentacleGripper on two pneumatic lightweight robots at once, which were also developed in the Bionic Learning Network: the BionicMotionRobot and the BionicCobot. Both robots are thoroughly pliable and can be infinitely stiffened in terms of their kinematics. They can therefore interact directly with people. Even in the event of a collision, they are harmless and do not have to be shielded from the worker like conventional factory robots. Precise control of the bionic gripper The Festo Motion Terminal used controls and regulates both the respective robot arm as well as the gripper here. The Motion Terminal is the world’s first pneumatic automation platform, which, using its software control system, combines the functionalities of over 50 individual components using apps. Not only does that enable the varied motion sequences of the two robots, but also the exact dosing of compressed air and vacuum in the silicone tentacle. Due to this and its soft structure, the TentacleGripper has major pot- ential for collaborative working spaces of the future. By using pneu- matic kinematics with vacuum-based holding force, it can already solve the widest range of gripping tasks in the industrial sector. Grippers in today’s automation There are already a number of different grippers in the industrial automation sector today, and each of them has been developed for a special task. If the shape of a workpiece changes, the corres- ponding gripper must be replaced on the machine or converted, which requires a great deal of effort. In facilities that make various products, changeover systems are therefore frequently used, which are fitted with different grippers. Requirements of tomorrow’s factory In the production of the future, however, there will be a need for more flexible installations and components, which are inde- pendently adjusted to the respective product being made in accordance with plug and produce. Adaptable grippers like the TentacleGripper can assume a significant role in this respect. 01 02 03 04 2 Festo AG & Co. KG 3 TentacleGripper: Gripping modelled on an octopus tentacle