Electric-actuated pneumatic gripper

Electro-adhesive Pneumatic/Hydraulic Gripper

This technology is a soft robotic gripper mechanism that combines a flexible gripping unit, which expands and contracts via a pneumatic/hydraulic chamber, with an electro-adhesive film that utilizes electrostatic attraction. This increases static friction with objects, allowing for the secure gripping of irregularly shaped items.

Conventional motor-driven robotic hands are limited in their ability to grip irregular objects of various shapes and materials due to their rigid construction, while pneumatic/hydraulic soft robotic grippers often suffer from weak gripping force due to the nature of their flexible materials.

This technology places an electro-adhesive film containing a first electrode in the contact area of the flexible gripping unit to generate electrostatic adhesion. By covering the electrode with a thin film that has lower elongation and higher stiffness than the gripper body, it maintains flexibility while locally enhancing gripping force. Applicable to logistics picking, service robots, and manufacturing automation, it improves both clamping force and durability compared to traditional pneumatic grippers.

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Key Features:

• First and second gripping units connected to the main body and driven by the internal pneumatic/hydraulic chamber
• The first gripping unit includes a first electro-adhesive film with a first electrode in the area that contacts the object
• The second gripping unit includes a second electro-adhesive film with a second electrode in the area that contacts the object
• Each electro-adhesive film features a structure where the electrode is encased in a thin film with a lower elongation rate than the gripping unit itself

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of shape-adaptive electro-adhesive grippers capable of picking irregular multi-objects.