Robotic hands need to be able to securely grasp and move objects with different shapes without breaking them. Festo, a German automation and controls company, has developed a new type of device to do so. The FlexShapeGripper has a silicone cap on the tip that can be sucked in or released. It's inspired by the amazing natural grappling capacity of a chameleon's tongue.
This video shows the FlexShapeGripper in action, picking up objects of different sizes and shapes, including glasses, car keys, and ball bearings. Festo envisions it as useful for industrial robots that can be used for different tasks without requiring complex mechanical alterations.
-via Core77
Robot Hand Design Based on a Chameleon's Tongue
