A Fast-Acting Gripper for Aerial Vehicles

Robotic manipulation involves developing automated systems capable of grasping, moving, and manipulating objects in different contexts. This research field is of great importance in the industrial area, where robot manipulators are used to automate production and assembly operations. The main objective of robotic manipulation is to create systems capable of performing complex and precise functions similar to those performed by humans. The main challenge concerns the execution speed of the object grip. This article introduces a new design of a hybrid gripper actuated by an electromechanical servo motor and a spring. The mechanism uses the two technologies to instantly discharge the stored potential and grasp the object. The lightness, low consumption, and execution speed of the grip make it suitable for use on different types of UAVs.