TentacleGripper: Secure, Soft, and Smart

The Unique Design of the Octopus Tentacle

The TentacleGripper is a bionic gripper that draws inspiration from the versatility and agility of an octopus tentacle. It is designed specifically for industrial applications where adaptability and gentle handling are key. With its innovative soft silicone structure, the TentacleGripper can securely and carefully handle a wide range of objects, including delicate items that conventional hard-material grippers might damage. At 220 mm in length and weighing only 190 grams, the TentacleGripper combines mobility with precision, making it an ideal choice for industries that rely on flexibility in automation. Unlike rigid alternatives, this gripper’s soft material conforms naturally to objects of varying shapes and sizes, ensuring a stable, form-fitting grip.

The Power of Suction: Active and Passive Gripping

A central feature of the TentacleGripper is its dual suction cup design, inspired by the octopus’s natural suction abilities. Inside the silicone tentacle, two rows of suction cups offer both active and passive gripping. There are 8 larger, active suction cups connected to a vacuum line for controlled adhesion, allowing the gripper to maintain a strong, adjustable hold on smooth or slippery surfaces. In addition, 10 smaller, passive suction cups further enhance grip without the need for active control. When compressed air inflates the internal chamber, the tentacle bends and wraps around the object, using both suction systems for added security. This dual approach ensures the TentacleGripper’s suitability for handling objects with various textures and shapes, enhancing its versatility in industries requiring precise, reliable gripping.

The Mechanics Behind the Magic

At the core of the TentacleGripper is a single air chamber running along its length, which powers its curling action. When compressed air at a working pressure of 2 bar flows through this chamber, the tentacle bends inward. To prevent overstretching or damage, an embedded LYCRA fiber textile cover constrains the silicone, channeling the force into a consistent inward curl. Additionally, a thin layer of polystyrene film inside the tentacle regulates the bending action by supporting the inward motion and preventing unwanted deformation. Together, these materials and design elements allow the TentacleGripper to deliver controlled movements, making it suitable for handling everything from fragile items to bulkier materials.

Pioneering Collaborative Robotics

Festo’s TentacleGripper is designed to work alongside humans in a collaborative environment, meeting the strict safety standards required for this task. Its soft, compliant materials make it safe for human interaction, while its flexible design provides a natural solution for shared workspaces. Festo has tested the TentacleGripper on their pneumatic lightweight robots, the BionicMotionRobot and BionicCobot, allowing them to enhance collaborative environments by working safely alongside humans.

To control the gripper, Festo uses the Motion Terminal which is a pneumatic automation platform that manages air pressure and vacuum functions with advanced software applications. This setup enables the TentacleGripper to perform consistent movements. The Festo Motion Terminal serves as an advanced control hub by optimizing both the robot arm and the gripper itself to create safe, accurate handling in complex industrial settings.

A Future of Adaptability

In the world of industrial automation, flexibility is often limited by the need to swap out grippers or modify machinery for different tasks. The TentacleGripper overcomes this challenge by offering an adaptable, plug in solution that easily integrates into existing systems. Its flexible design allows it to mold to new shapes and surfaces without modification which overall reduces downtime and enhances productivity. This adaptability is crucial in modern production environments where product variations are frequent as the TentacleGripper can quickly adjust to handle different tasks. This continues the industry trend of moving toward flexible, modular production lines, where robots and humans can share tasks in real time.