Approach and grasp: These images show a grasping task. As a robotic hand approaches the flask (top), a planning algorithm positions the robotic fingers to achieve a sturdy grip (bottom).
Credit: Matei T. Ciocarlie and Peter K. Allen/Reprinted by Permission of SAGE
New publications, experiments and breakthroughs in information technology--and what they mean.
Getting a Grip
A new approach lets robots grasp objects more quickly.
Source: "Hand Posture Subspaces for Dexterous Robotic Grasping"
Matei T. Ciocarlie and Peter K. Allen
The International Journal of Robotics Research 28: 851-867
Results: Researchers at Columbia University have developed control algorithms for robotic hands--motorized grippers with three, four, or five fingers--that reduce the number of calculations required for the devices to grasp an object. Using the algorithms, a robotic hand was able to grasp a wide variety of objects, including a wine glass, a telephone, and an ashtray.
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