HEFEI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — In science fiction movies, robots are often formidable and unbreakable. A flexible robotic hand, a recent innovation achieved by Chinese scientists, is changing this rigid perception.
In a captivating demonstration video, two quivering strips of black silicone, resembling soft chopsticks, are manipulated with magnetic precision to gently hold and carefully and delicately transport a fragile flying dandelion seed.
This is the soft clamp developed by a team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), which integrates a porous structure in a magnetic silicone elastomer.
With some modifications, this manipulator is versatile enough to be used in a variety of applications, from in vitro fertilization to wildlife rescue, the researchers said.
POROUS STRUCTURE
The rigid metal robotic “fingers,” designed to be strong and precise, tend to be too forceful when it comes to manipulating something fragile. However, handling soft living objects requires a delicate balance between shape adaptability and grip strength, qualities that often conflict with each other.
In engineering, incorporating more magnetic particles offers the possibility of increasing the gripper’s gripping power, but this increase often leads to greater rigidity, which in turn hinders its ability to adapt to objects of different shapes.
The USTC team’s novel approach uses a pore-forming agent that, when heated, breaks down to generate countless tiny pores. This method guarantees a high concentration of magnetic particles and, at the same time, gives the machine exceptional smoothness.
The intricate internal pores effectively absorb shock energy from rapid gripping movements, reducing the risk of damage to delicate objects, according to results published in the journal Advanced Materials.
In addition, the porous structure of the surface increases friction, and this, in turn, improves the stability and reliability of the grip.
In the laboratory, the gripper managed to pick up a slippery live goldfish and a raw, shelled quail egg.
In a small magnetic field, the lifting percentage of this tool can reach 30. Such a value means that it has the ability to lift objects 30 times heavier than itself, said Li Mujun, professor at USTC and lead author of the article.
“Considering its pinching method, the performance of this gripper is impressive, although it does not match the grasping power of octopus-like wrapping techniques,” Li told Xinhua news agency.
MULTIPLE SCENARIOS
The soft robotic hand is poised to enable medical and clinical researchers in the future to manipulate fine cell samples in a gentle and non-invasive way.
Applications include the collection of oocytes, sperm and other reproductive cells, as well as human organ tissues. Multiple domains in the field of health can be covered, such as reproductive research, clinical procedures, drug testing, the development of genetic disease models and regenerative medicine, the scientist explained.
Its remote operability is a significant benefit, especially when it comes to integrating it with mobile platforms. Its articulation with mobile robots, for example, facilitates the manipulation of chicks gently and precisely, demonstrating its versatility in delicate tasks.
Furthermore, its compatibility with drones enables effective capture of minnows from bodies of water, as well as subsequent rapid and safe transportation over long distances, Li said.
This capability positions the forceps as a potential tool, both for field sampling in natural environments and for small animal rescue, he added. End
