ROBOTIC COMPLIANCE CONTROL USING MEMORY FOAMS

Shape adaptive gripping techniques are becoming increasingly important in robotics as the handling of more delicate or irregular shaped objects are tackled. The use of compliance allows the acquisition of irregularly shaped parts to be made without the necessity of employing sophisticated sensing techniques. Furthermore, shape adaption using very compliant mediums allows extremely delicate objects such as glassware and soft fruit to be handled without damage. A comparison with other compliant techniques such as electrorheological fluids and remote centre compliance is covered in more depth elsewhere.