Vine-inspired robotic gripper gently lifts heavy and fragile objects - Robohub

Researchers at MIT and Stanford have developed a vine-inspired robotic gripper that can gently and securely lift a wide range of heavy and fragile objects, such as watermelons and glass vases. The robot operates by inflating long, flexible, vine-like tubes from a pressurized box near the target object; these tubes extend, twist, and coil around the object before being clamped and mechanically wound back to lift it in a soft, sling-like grasp. This design allows the robot to navigate tight spaces and cluttered environments, offering a gentler alternative to conventional rigid grippers. The team envisions broad applications for this technology, including agricultural harvesting, cargo handling, and notably eldercare. In eldercare settings, the vine robot could assist caregivers by gently lifting patients out of bed, a task that is physically demanding and often uncomfortable for patients. This approach could reduce caregiver strain and improve patient comfort during transfers. The research, detailed in the journal Science Advances, builds on prior work in soft, pneumatic