Speedy robo-gripper reflexively organizes cluttered spaces

For now, the system is a proof of concept and provides a general organizational structure for embedding reflexes into a robotic system. Looking to give robots a more nimble, human-like touch, MIT engineers have now developed a gripper that grasps by reflex . If a gripper misses its mark, it’s back to the starting point, where the controller must map out a new plan. Compared to a baseline grasping controller, the gripper’s reflexes increased the area of successful grasps by over 55 percent. “Picking up a cup from a clean table — that specific problem in robotics was solved 30 years ago,” Kim notes.