Aaron Prather

University of Washington researchers have developed a novel generative design tool for passive grippers - robot end effectors that have no additional actuation and instead leverage the existing degrees of freedom in a robotic arm to perform grasping tasks.

Their work proposes using a rapid-manufacturing and design optimization to expand the space of shapes that can be passively grasped. The novel generative design algorithm takes in an object and its positioning with respect to a robotic arm and generates a 3D printable passive gripper that can stably pick the object up.

This could lead to faster builds of end effectors that work on specific pick items.

📝 Paper Page: https://lnkd.in/ex38ke2r
📊 Project Page: https://lnkd.in/ezWy9RWN

#robotics #research #additivemanufacturing

A group of researchers at Penn Engineering have developed aerial robots that can assemble themselves in midair and fly together in different shapes. The robots have an agile module that can move easily in a three-dimensional environment. This module is built on a quadrotor platform within a cuboid frame, allowing it to connect to other modules by aligning their vertical faces. This swarm of modular robots, called 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝, can quickly build flying structures in midair using the robot bodies as building blocks.

Visit the project page here: https://lnkd.in/eff6vt-s

Where do you think this technology could be applied?

Placing $100 on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology basketball team winning the 2030 National Championship. 🏀🤖