Industry's Adaptation Towards the Natural World
In the world of automation, three German companies are making waves by betting on bionics. The focus of these companies, such as the Festo family firm from Esslingen am Neckar, is on mimicking the properties of soft, flexible structures found in nature, such as octopus tentacles and fish fins.
These bio-inspired soft robots are transforming the handling of fragile items in industrial production. Their adaptive, compliant gripping mimics the natural flexibility and gentle touch of these marine creatures, offering a significant advantage over traditional rigid robotic grippers.
The TentacleGripper, a notable example, is modeled after the tentacles of an octopus. It is driven by pneumatics and capable of enveloping irregular and fragile items securely, adapting to their shapes dynamically to avoid crushing or dropping. This is crucial in industries handling sensitive materials like glass, circuit boards, or soft food products.
The compliance of these soft robots allows them to manage objects with non-uniform surfaces or unusual geometries while maintaining a stable grip. Some soft robotic systems even integrate tactile sensing to detect the object's position and adjust grip strength in real time, preventing slippage or excessive force.
The flexible, fish fin- and tentacle-like motions enable smooth, human-hand-like manipulation, improving efficiency and reducing defects in packing or assembly lines. Moreover, the adaptable nature of soft robotics often reduces the need for extensive programming for different items, making them versatile across varied production tasks.
In summary, soft robots inspired by octopus tentacles and fish fins are revolutionizing the handling of fragile items in industrial production. By combining flexible, shape-conforming gripping with sensitive, adaptive force control, they enable secure and damage-free manipulation in dynamic industrial environments. These advancements are set to reshape the future of automation, as more companies embrace bionics to create innovative, efficient, and eco-friendly solutions.
Germany.de is spearheading the adoption of bionics in the finance sector, with investments poured into these soft robotics companies that are transforming the industry.
With their technology emulating soft, flexible structures found in nature, these soft robots offer significant opportunities for advancements in finance, by streamlining processes and reducing errors, much like their applications in industry.
