Dexterous Manipulation of Deformable Objects via Pneumatic Gripping: Lifting by One End

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel pneumatic gripping method for dexterously lifting deformable textile objects from one edge, reducing force and vibration, thus improving accessibility in robotic manipulation of soft materials.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new approach for lifting deformable objects from one edge using a specialized pneumatic gripper with precise orientation control, enhancing manipulation capabilities.

Findings

Effective lifting demonstrated on four different materials.

Reduced gripping force and vibration during manipulation.

Applicable to conveyor and automated line scenarios.

Abstract

Manipulating deformable objects in robotic cells is often costly and not widely accessible. However, the use of localized pneumatic gripping systems can enhance accessibility. Current methods that use pneumatic grippers to handle deformable objects struggle with effective lifting. This paper introduces a method for the dexterous lifting of textile deformable objects from one edge, utilizing a previously developed gripper designed for flexible and porous materials. By precisely adjusting the orientation and position of the gripper during the lifting process, we were able to significantly reduce necessary gripping force and minimize object vibration caused by airflow. This method was tested and validated on four materials with varying mass, friction, and flexibility. The proposed approach facilitates the lifting of deformable objects from a conveyor or automated line, even when only one edge is accessible for grasping. Future work will involve integrating a vision system to optimize the manipulation of deformable objects with more complex shapes.