Robots will need sensory skins to safely interact with humans and navigate more complex environments than factory work cells. This invention is a new stretchable pneumatic sensor skin that can feel its surroundings and reach for objects in constrained environments.
Stanford researchers at the Cutkosky Lab have patented a method of towing or pushing an object using a micro-robot. This micro-robot can drag loads almost 2000x its weight by using controllable dry adhesive for robotic "feet" that can develop huge amounts of shear force.
Stanford researchers at the Cutkosky Lab have patented a low cost, passively activated gripper that can grasp large curved, textured or delicate objects using an adhesive film.