Engineering
Designing a Compliant Constant-Force Mechanism for Adaptive Grippers
Quick fact
A well-designed compliant constant-force mechanism can maintain a nearly constant output force over a displacement range that is several times larger than the mechanism's own deflection, enabling adaptive grippers to handle objects of varying size and stiffness without crushing them.
Why this is interesting
You’ve probably seen a robotic gripper crush a soft object despite careful programming. What if a purely mechanical design could ensure a gentle, constant grip force every time—without any sensors or active control?