Artificial 'Venus flytrap' can sense and pick up things

The Venus flytrap may be known for its jaws of death, but the carnivorous plant has inspired a gentle device. Engineers have developed a soft, gripping device that can sense and pick up objects up to 100 bigger than itself, mimicking the ferocious plant. And the simple soft object, capable of identifying its targets, could be used to handle delicate items autonomously one day which could transform manufacturing. Venus flytraps recognise their prey using touch-sensitive trigger hairs located on the trap's inner surface. When stimulated, these hairs generate an electric signal that is transmitted to the plant.