Modeling and prototyping of a soft closed-chain modular gripper
ISSN: 0143-991x
Article publication date: 21 March 2019
Issue publication date: 12 April 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a soft closed-chain modular gripper for robotic pick-and-place applications. The proposed biomimetic gripper design is inspired by the Fin Ray effect, derived from fish fins physiology. It is composed of three axisymmetric fingers, actuated with a single actuator. Each finger has a modular under-actuated closed-chain structure. The finger structure is compliant in contact normal direction, with stiff crossbeams reorienting to help the finger structure conform around objects.
Design/methodology/approach
Starting with the design and development of the proposed gripper, a consequent mathematical representation consisting of closed-chain forward and inverse kinematics is detailed. The proposed mathematical framework is validated through the finite element modeling simulations. Additionally, a set of experiments was conducted to compare the simulated and prototype finger trajectories, as well as to assess qualitative grasping ability.
Findings
Key Findings are the presented mathematical model for closed-loop chain mechanisms, as well as design and optimization guidelines to develop controlled closed-chain grippers.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed methodology and mathematical model could be taken as a fundamental modular base block to explore similar distributed degrees of freedom (DOF) closed-chain manipulators and grippers. The enhanced kinematic model contributes to optimized dynamics and control of soft closed-chain grasping mechanisms.
Practical implications
The approach is aimed to improve the development of soft grippers that are required to grasp complex objects found in human–robot cooperation and collaborative robot (cobot) applications.
Originality/value
The proposed closed-chain mathematical framework is based on distributed DOFs instead of the conventional lumped joint approach. This is to better optimize and understand the kinematics of soft robotic mechanisms.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research leading to these results is supported by Aerospace Research and Innovation Center (ARIC) and Khalifa University Center for Autonomous Robotic Systems (KUCARS). The authors would like thank the internal research team of Khalifa University of Science and Technology for supporting this study.
Citation
Anwar, M., Khawli, T.A., Hussain, I., Gan, D. and Renda, F. (2019), "Modeling and prototyping of a soft closed-chain modular gripper", Industrial Robot, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 135-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/IR-09-2018-0180
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited