"Reflexive Robo-Gripper Organizes Cluttered Spaces with Speed"
MIT engineers have developed a reflexive gripper that adapts in the moment to reflexively roll, palm, or pinch an object to get a better hold. The new design is the first to incorporate reflexes into a robotic planning architecture. The system is a proof of concept and provides a general organizational structure for embedding reflexes into a robotic system. Going forward, the researchers plan to program more complex reflexes to enable nimble, adaptable machines that can work with and among humans in ever-changing settings.