Robotic Claws Engineered for Manipulating Fragile Biological Entities
Robotic grippers specifically engineered for the handling of fragile living organisms.
TroibNews 
In the realm of science fiction, robots often come across as tough and invincible. However, a recent advancement by Chinese researchers is challenging this traditional view with the creation of a flexible robotic hand.
A striking demonstration video features two quivering black silicone strips, reminiscent of soft chopsticks, expertly manipulated by magnetic forces to delicately grasp and move a fragile dandelion puff with precision.
This innovative soft gripper was developed by a team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and incorporates a porous structure within a magnetic silicone elastomer.
With certain adjustments, this device shows promise for a variety of applications, including in-vitro fertilization and wildlife rescue, as noted by the researchers.
Conventional rigid robotic metal "fingers," aimed at being both strong and accurate, often exert too much force when handling delicate items. In contrast, managing soft living materials requires a careful balance between adaptability in shape and gripping strength—traits that can be inherently conflicting.
In engineering practices, adding more magnetic particles can enhance the gripping capability; however, this often results in increased stiffness that limits the gripper’s ability to conform to different shapes.
The USTC researchers took a different route by using a pore-forming agent that, when heated, breaks down to create numerous tiny pores. This technique allows for a high concentration of magnetic particles while still offering the gripper remarkable softness.
The internal pore structure minimizes the shock energy from swift grasping actions, thereby reducing the likelihood of damaging fragile items, as indicated by findings published in the journal Advanced Materials.
Moreover, the porous surface enhances friction, thereby boosting grip stability and reliability.
In their lab tests, this gripper successfully lifted a slippery live goldfish as well as a raw quail egg without a shell.
According to Li Mujun, a professor at USTC and the lead author of the study, in a small magnetic field, the gripper can achieve a lifting ratio of 30. "This means it can lift objects that are 30 times heavier than itself," he explained.
"Considering its pinching method, this gripper's performance is impressive, though it doesn't quite match the gripping power of octopus-like wrapping techniques," Li told Xinhua.
Looking ahead, this soft robotic gripper is set to assist medical researchers and healthcare professionals in handling delicate cell samples in a noninvasive manner.
Potential applications include the collection of oocytes, sperm, and various reproductive cells, as well as tissues from human organs, spanning a wide array of medical fields such as reproductive research, clinical activities, drug screening, genetic disease model development, and regenerative medicine, according to Li.
The remote-operability of the magnetic gripper is another important advantage, particularly for its integration with mobile platforms. For instance, when paired with mobile robots, it can gently and accurately handle chicks, demonstrating its versatility in sensitive tasks.
Its compatibility with drones also facilitates the effective capture of small fish from water bodies, allowing for quick and safe transportation over long distances, as stated by Li.
This capability positions the gripper as a valuable asset for field sampling in natural settings and for rescuing small animals, he added.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
A striking demonstration video features two quivering black silicone strips, reminiscent of soft chopsticks, expertly manipulated by magnetic forces to delicately grasp and move a fragile dandelion puff with precision.
This innovative soft gripper was developed by a team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and incorporates a porous structure within a magnetic silicone elastomer.
With certain adjustments, this device shows promise for a variety of applications, including in-vitro fertilization and wildlife rescue, as noted by the researchers.
Conventional rigid robotic metal "fingers," aimed at being both strong and accurate, often exert too much force when handling delicate items. In contrast, managing soft living materials requires a careful balance between adaptability in shape and gripping strength—traits that can be inherently conflicting.
In engineering practices, adding more magnetic particles can enhance the gripping capability; however, this often results in increased stiffness that limits the gripper’s ability to conform to different shapes.
The USTC researchers took a different route by using a pore-forming agent that, when heated, breaks down to create numerous tiny pores. This technique allows for a high concentration of magnetic particles while still offering the gripper remarkable softness.
The internal pore structure minimizes the shock energy from swift grasping actions, thereby reducing the likelihood of damaging fragile items, as indicated by findings published in the journal Advanced Materials.
Moreover, the porous surface enhances friction, thereby boosting grip stability and reliability.
In their lab tests, this gripper successfully lifted a slippery live goldfish as well as a raw quail egg without a shell.
According to Li Mujun, a professor at USTC and the lead author of the study, in a small magnetic field, the gripper can achieve a lifting ratio of 30. "This means it can lift objects that are 30 times heavier than itself," he explained.
"Considering its pinching method, this gripper's performance is impressive, though it doesn't quite match the gripping power of octopus-like wrapping techniques," Li told Xinhua.
Looking ahead, this soft robotic gripper is set to assist medical researchers and healthcare professionals in handling delicate cell samples in a noninvasive manner.
Potential applications include the collection of oocytes, sperm, and various reproductive cells, as well as tissues from human organs, spanning a wide array of medical fields such as reproductive research, clinical activities, drug screening, genetic disease model development, and regenerative medicine, according to Li.
The remote-operability of the magnetic gripper is another important advantage, particularly for its integration with mobile platforms. For instance, when paired with mobile robots, it can gently and accurately handle chicks, demonstrating its versatility in sensitive tasks.
Its compatibility with drones also facilitates the effective capture of small fish from water bodies, allowing for quick and safe transportation over long distances, as stated by Li.
This capability positions the gripper as a valuable asset for field sampling in natural settings and for rescuing small animals, he added.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
