Smart grasping demonstrated at Automate and ProMat trade shows

Tactile sensing and force feedback are – and have been – problem areas for robot grasping. Humans could see, select and pick so much faster. Yet to handle the millions of different everyday items in our factories and warehouses, costly positioning and camera systems have been required. These systems made it easy for fast robots with simple grippers to pick items as they came along – but at great cost. Chicago's huge McCormick Place Conference Center was once again home to the Automate and ProMat trade shows.