Soft vine robot wraps fragile items, even lifting human bodies safely

Researchers at MIT and Stanford have developed a novel “robo-tendril” robot inspired by garden vines, capable of gently wrapping, tightening, and lifting fragile and heavy objects—including safely lifting a human body. The system uses long, inflatable tubes that grow outward by turning inside out, twisting and coiling around objects before reconnecting to their base. A built-in clamp and mechanical winch then retract the tubes, creating a soft, hammock-like cradle. This design allows the robot to navigate tight spaces, push through clutter, and stabilize loads that conventional grippers struggle to handle. A key innovation is the robot’s ability to switch between “open-loop” growth—extending and burrowing under an object—and “closed-loop” grasping, where the vine forms a continuous loop by reconnecting to its base to securely hold and lift objects. This capability addresses challenges in eldercare, such as transferring patients from beds, by reducing physical strain on caregivers and providing a gentler, more comfortable experience for