The present invention relates to a gripper assembly for gripping a product. The assembly comprises first and second mounting members; an actuator for causing relative movement between the first and second mounting members; and a plurality of gripper members spaced apart about a primary axis. At least one the gripper members comprise a resiliently deformable body comprising a distal end and first and second connection formations spaced from the distal end and from each other, the first and second connection formations being connected to the first and second mounting members respectively such that an axial component of movement between the first and second mounting members caused by the actuator in use imparts a rotation of the distal end of each gripper member in a direction towards and/or away from the primary axis.

The present invention relates to a gripper assembly for gripping a product. The assembly comprises first and second mounting members; an actuator for causing relative movement between the first and second mounting members; and a plurality of gripper members spaced apart about a primary axis. At least one the gripper members comprise a resiliently deformable body comprising a distal end and first and second connection formations spaced from the distal end and from each other, the first and second connection formations being connected to the first and second mounting members respectively such that an axial component of movement between the first and second mounting members caused by the actuator in use imparts a rotation of the distal end of each gripper member in a direction towards and/or away from the primary axis.

A finger assembly of a robot hand includes a main frame, a tip portion rotatably connected to the main frame, and a band portion connected to the tip portion.

A finger assembly of a robot hand includes a main frame, a tip portion rotatably connected to the main frame, and a band portion connected to the tip portion.

Exemplary embodiments relate to pressurizable housings for a soft robotic actuator. The pressurized housings may be divided into an upper chamber in fluid communication with an internal void of the actuator, and a lower chamber connected to an inlet and an outlet. The upper chamber and lower chamber may be separated by a piston. By supplying a fluid to the lower chamber via the inlet, the piston is moved into the space previously occupied by the upper chamber, which reduces the volume of the upper chamber and increases the pressure in the internal void. This action allows the actuator to be rapidly inflated, and further simplifies the pressurization system and reduces its weight.

Exemplary embodiments relate to pressurizable housings for a soft robotic actuator. The pressurized housings may be divided into an upper chamber in fluid communication with an internal void of the actuator, and a lower chamber connected to an inlet and an outlet. The upper chamber and lower chamber may be separated by a piston. By supplying a fluid to the lower chamber via the inlet, the piston is moved into the space previously occupied by the upper chamber, which reduces the volume of the upper chamber and increases the pressure in the internal void. This action allows the actuator to be rapidly inflated, and further simplifies the pressurization system and reduces its weight.

A robot controller is a controller which controls, via a hand control device, a robot hand that grips an article with two or more gripping portions. The robot controller includes, a size information acquisition unit which acquires size information about the article based on an image obtained by a visual sensor for detecting the article, and a gripping adjustment unit which changes, in response to the size information, a gripping distance, which is the space between the gripping portions, in a gripping state or a gripping force of the gripping portions in the gripping state.

A soft robot hand includes a palm, a first fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm, and a second fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm. The first actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a first human finger. The second actuator is spaced apart from the first actuator. The second actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a second human finger.

A soft robot hand includes a palm, a first fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm, and a second fabric-reinforced textile actuator coupled to the palm. The first actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a first human finger. The second actuator is spaced apart from the first actuator. The second actuator is moveable relative to the palm between a collapsed position and an inflated position to approximate a joint in a second human finger.

A robot arm assembly for detecting a pose and force associated with an object is provided. The robot arm assembly includes an end effector having a plurality of fingers, and a deformable sensor provided on each finger. The deformable sensor includes a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to the housing, an enclosure filled with a medium, and an internal sensor disposed within the housing having a field of view directed through the medium and toward an internal surface of the deformable membrane. A processor is configured to receive an output from each internal sensor, the output including a contact region of the deformable membrane as a result of contact with the object. The processor determines an amount of displacement of the contact region based on the output from each internal sensor, and determines the pose and the force associated with the object based on the amount of displacement.