Granular jamming based robotic gripper for heavy objects

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openAccess

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Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2019

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

8
421–428

Series

Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Volume 68, issue 4

Abstract

Moving heavy objects with overhead cranes requires the operator to fasten the object to a hook with ropes or chains. This is a time-consuming process, which could be avoided by using universal grippers that can lift objects of any shape. This study was conducted to find if a universal gripper, based on granular jamming, can be used for crane scale applications. Maximum lifting capacity of granular jamming grippers was analytically evaluated and experimentally tested with various material combinations. Objects with different shapes, sizes and weights were successfully lifted with selected gripper configurations. The results showed that grain size and grain compressibility both affect the performance of the gripper. It was demonstrated that in order to efficiently lift heavy objects with granular jamming, the granular material has to be compressed sufficiently. Pressure difference between environment and the sealed pouch, filled with granular material, has to be correct. With this setup, gripper based on granular jamming was able to lift objects with various shapes; and weights up to 120 kg.

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Keywords

granular jamming, crane, lifting, universal gripping

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Citation

Miettinen, J, Frilund, P, Vuorinen, I, Kuosmanen, P & Kiviluoma, P 2019, ' Granular jamming based robotic gripper for heavy objects ', Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 421–428 . https://doi.org/10.3176/proc.2019.4.12