A passive universal grasping mechanism based on an everting shell
This work addresses the need for simple, passive grasping mechanisms in robotics, though it is incremental as it applies known bistable shell concepts to a new application.
The paper presents a passive grasping mechanism using an everting bistable shell that can pick up objects of any shape up to a certain size and weight, with the mechanism staying in its grasping configuration until actuated to release.
A passive monolithic compliant grasping mechanism that works based on the eversion of an elastically deformable bistable shell is conceptualized. It comprises grasping arms made of beam segments that work in conjunction with the everting shell. The grasper is capable of picking up a stiff object of any shape up to a maximum size and weight. The bistable shell everts upon contact with the object to enable the grasping arms envelop the object forming an enclosure. The mechanism then stays in that configuration until it is actuated again to turn the shell back to its original configuration and thereby opening the enclosure to release the object. The stiffness of the arms decides the payload of the mechanism. The size of the arms decides the largest object that can be grasped and held. The arms have distributed compliance so that they can conform to the shape of the object without applying undue force on it.