An example apparatus of the present disclosure may include an end effector. The end effector may include a pair of actuator-driven fingers that each include a compliant tip. The compliant tips may be used to scoop underneath items as part of item manipulation.

A gripper control device includes a controller, the controller is configured to conduct: a grasp quality evaluation process to obtain a grasp quality contribution degree for each of a plurality of contact positions at which fingers that support the object are in contact with the object; a finger-to-be-moved determination process configured to determine, as a finger-to-be-moved, the finger corresponding to one of the contact positions at which the grasp quality contribution degree is low; and a finger movement control process configured to send a control command to a finger driving apparatus, wherein the grasp quality contribution degree for each of the multiple contact positions is defined using at least one of the following elements: relative positions of the plurality of contact positions related to the object; and friction coefficients between the object and the fingers at the plurality of contact positions.

Apparatuses including compliant tips and methods of manipulating items using the compliant tips are described herein. An example apparatus may include a robotic manipulator and a pair of end effectors. One end effector may include a pair of actuator-driven fingers that each include a compliant tip. The compliant tips may be used to scoop underneath items as part of item manipulation.

A gripper control device includes a controller, the controller is configured to conduct: a grasp quality evaluation process to obtain a grasp quality contribution degree for each of a plurality of contact positions at which fingers that support the object are in contact with the object; a finger-to-be-moved determination process configured to determine, as a finger-to-be-moved, the finger corresponding to one of the contact positions at which the grasp quality contribution degree is low; and a finger movement control process configured to send a control command to a finger driving apparatus, wherein the grasp quality contribution degree for each of the multiple contact positions is defined using at least one of the following elements: relative positions of the plurality of contact positions related to the object; and friction coefficients between the object and the fingers at the plurality of contact positions.

A device for aligning a robotic arm with an end-effector is provided. The device may include a spherical tool and a receiver. The spherical tool may include a spherical end portion and a distal base portion configured to releasably couple to the end-effector. The receiver may include a plurality of arms and a proximal base portion configured to releasably couple to the robotic arm. Furthermore, the arms may be configured to receive the spherical end portion and include one or more indicators configured to track alignment between the robotic arm and the end-effector.

A device for aligning a robotic arm with an end-effector is provided. The device may include a spherical tool and a receiver. The spherical tool may include a spherical end portion and a distal base portion configured to releasably couple to the end-effector. The receiver may include a plurality of arms and a proximal base portion configured to releasably couple to the robotic arm. Furthermore, the arms may be configured to receive the spherical end portion and include one or more indicators configured to track alignment between the robotic arm and the end-effector.