A team of scientists from the Computational Robot Design and Fabrication Lab (Create Lab) at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has taken an alternative approach to robotic grippers, combining biological and synthetic components. The researchers used the exoskeletons of lobster tails and reinforced them with synthetic components to create a robotic gripper capable of lifting objects weighing up to 500 g.
The exoskeletons of lobsters consist of mineralized shells with joint membranes. They are particularly stiff and resistant while also being highly flexible. They are made up of individual segments that can move independently of each other, allowing lobsters to move quickly in the water. The scientists at EPFL therefore hypothesized that the exoskeletons of crustaceans cou…
A team of scientists from the Computational Robot Design and Fabrication Lab (Create Lab) at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has taken an alternative approach to robotic grippers, combining biological and synthetic components. The researchers used the exoskeletons of lobster tails and reinforced them with synthetic components to create a robotic gripper capable of lifting objects weighing up to 500 g.
The exoskeletons of lobsters consist of mineralized shells with joint membranes. They are particularly stiff and resistant while also being highly flexible. They are made up of individual segments that can move independently of each other, allowing lobsters to move quickly in the water. The scientists at EPFL therefore hypothesized that the exoskeletons of crustaceans could also be suitable for use in robotics. The scientists have summarized their research findings in the study "Dead Matter, Living Machines: Repurposing Crustaceans’ Abdomen Exoskeleton for Bio-Hybrid Robots," which was published in Advanced Science.
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The scientists embedded an elastomer into the lobstertail exoskeleton to control each individual segment via a motorized base. The researchers also coated the exoskeleton with a silicone layer to reinforce it and increase its lifespan.
Robot fingers from lobster tails
The researchers combined two of these modified motorized exoskeletons to create a robotic gripper with two fingers. In this configuration, the gripper is capable of lifting many different objects of various shapes and sizes up to a weight of 500 g, including highlighters and tomatoes.
The system is only limited by the unique biological shape of each lobster tail, as the gripper can bend slightly differently on each side. However, the scientists see the possibility of overcoming this problem by using additional synthetic components.
"Although nature doesn’t necessarily provide the optimal shape, it still outperforms many artificial systems and offers valuable insights for the construction of functional machines based on elegant principles," says Josie Hughes, head of the Create Lab.
The researchers believe that with advanced synthetic extension mechanisms for biological structural elements, it will be possible to create biomedical implants or platforms for monitoring biosystems.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.