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Vine-inspired robotic gripper gently lifts heavy and fragile objects

A new robotic design uses vine-like structures to lift and grasp a variety of objects, including humans, with a gentler approach. The robot can snake around obstacles, squeeze through tight spaces, and even secure itself in a closed loop to create a sling.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 10, 2025

Intelligent liquid

The new metafluid can transition between Newtonian and non-Newtonian states, allowing for programmable viscosity and compressibility. The researchers demonstrated the fluid's capabilities in a hydraulic robotic gripper, picking up objects of varying weights without crushing them.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature·DateApr 3, 2024
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Rice engineers get a grip with ‘necrobotic’ spiders

Rice University mechanical engineers repurpose deceased spiders as small-scale, naturally derived grippers. The spiders can lift more than 130% of their own body weight and perform tasks like sorting or moving objects around. Future research will focus on testing the concept with smaller spiders.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2022

Rice engineers get a grip with ‘necrobotic’ spiders

Researchers at Rice University have created a system that uses the physiology of deceased spiders to create small-scale grippers. The spiders' unique hydraulic system allows them to lift and manipulate objects, making them a promising technology for pick-and-place tasks and capturing smaller insects in nature.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 25, 2022