Provided is a die lift system comprising an end effector capable of lifting and manipulating a die, creating a safe and efficient way to do so free off all physical exertion by the worker associated with the lifting and maneuvering of the die; the end effector having the ability to engage a die; the end effector having at least one series of tines capable of grasping the die; the end effector having the ability to be securely coupled to the die; and the end effector having the ability to disengage from the die.

Exemplary embodiments relate to applications for soft robotic actuators in the manufacturing, packaging, and food preparation industries, among others. Methods and systems are disclosed for fixing target objects and/or receptacles using soft robotic actuators, for positioning target objects and/or receptacles, and/or for diverting or sorting objects. By using soft robotic actuators to perform the fixing, positioning, and/or diverting, objects of different sizes and configurations may be manipulated on the same processing line, without the need to reconfigure the line or install new hardware when a new object is received.

A device for selectively grasping a part of a separate elongated body extending through the device, includes at least three partially mobile jaw members defining between them a through hole of variable diameter depending on their mutual relative positioning, supporting and driving elements to which the jaw members are mounted and which are adapted to provide a coordinated motion to the members around the elongated body situated in the variable through hole, resulting in a closing or opening of the through hole. The jaw members have an elongated shape with two opposed ends and the supporting and driving elements include a circular or annular support body to which a first end of each jaw member is connected and a mobile annular driving body to which a second opposed end of each jaw member is connected.

A device for selectively grasping a part of a separate elongated body extending through the device, includes at least three partially mobile jaw members defining between them a through hole of variable diameter depending on their mutual relative positioning, supporting and driving elements to which the jaw members are mounted and which are adapted to provide a coordinated motion to the members around the elongated body situated in the variable through hole, resulting in a closing or opening of the through hole. The jaw members have an elongated shape with two opposed ends and the supporting and driving elements include a circular or annular support body to which a first end of each jaw member is connected and a mobile annular driving body to which a second opposed end of each jaw member is connected.

Disclosed is a gripper for robot hand capable of adaptive grasp, including a finger unit having one or more finger which includes a first link of which one end is rotatably fixed to a casing; a second link of which one end is jointly coupled with the other end of the first link; a third link of which one end is rotatably fixed to the casing, which is operated by receiving a driving force from the outside; a fourth link of which one end is jointly coupled with the other end of the third link; and a gripping member jointly coupled with the other end of the second link and the other end of the fourth link.

A humanoid robot capable of identifying an individual in a natural way is described. This humanoid robot shakes a hand of a person to acquire biological information of the person and identify the individual person. Particularly, a near infrared light emitting device and a near infrared sensor are installed in a hand of the humanoid robot to irradiate a hand of a human being with near infrared light emitted from the near infrared light emitting device and detect a vein pattern by the near infrared sensor. The individual person can be identified by recording and collating this vein pattern.

A humanoid robot capable of identifying an individual in a natural way is described. This humanoid robot shakes a hand of a person to acquire biological information of the person and identify the individual person. Particularly, a near infrared light emitting device and a near infrared sensor are installed in a hand of the humanoid robot to irradiate a hand of a human being with near infrared light emitted from the near infrared light emitting device and detect a vein pattern by the near infrared sensor. The individual person can be identified by recording and collating this vein pattern.

A robot gripping device has finger parts. Each finger part has a finger part body which is comprised of a plurality of plate-shaped elastic members, a first anti-slip part which is provided at an inside surface of a front end side of the finger part body, and a reinforcing member which is arranged along an outer surface of the finger part body, is connected to the front end of the finger part body, and is higher in rigidity than the finger part body. The reinforcing member has a first rotary joint which makes the reinforcing member pivot about a first axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the finger part body. The robot gripping device has a drive part which makes a base end of the finger part body move along the center of grip to make the finger parts open and close.

A robot gripping device has finger parts. Each finger part has a finger part body which is comprised of a plurality of plate-shaped elastic members, a first anti-slip part which is provided at an inside surface of a front end side of the finger part body, and a reinforcing member which is arranged along an outer surface of the finger part body, is connected to the front end of the finger part body, and is higher in rigidity than the finger part body. The reinforcing member has a first rotary joint which makes the reinforcing member pivot about a first axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the finger part body. The robot gripping device has a drive part which makes a base end of the finger part body move along the center of grip to make the finger parts open and close.

A soft bodied robotic member has the appearance of a finger and has a deformable rubber elongated body surrounding an array of rigid ribs interconnected by a perpendicular constraint. The plates form a series of parallel protrusions extending from opposed sides of the body and have a serrated, sawtooth or wavelike appearance. A tether runs through each row of protrusions and draws the corresponding protrusions together in a compressive manner to bend or dispose the finger toward the compressed side. Gaps between the protrusion allow movement of the protrusion towards adjacent protrusions to dispose the body in an arcuate shape. The constraint is a planar sheet that bends with the arc along its width, but resists lateral twisting, thus limiting movement outside a plane defined by the arc and the tether. Multiple finger members may be placed in close geometric proximity for gripping a common object