Swiss researchers have presented a feasibility study on a novel gripper for robots: It can detect fragile objects, but is also strong enough for heavy loads.
Researchers at the EPFL have developed a robot gripper, which is gentle enough to hold an egg or a single sheet of paper, but at the same time so strong that he can lift 80 times its own weight. it was realized by means of two rubber blades with embedded electrodes: When a voltage is applied, the wings bend inwards and hold it firmly between them lying object. The reported Technology Review online in "Strong gripper with sensitivity".