Grip firmness is an important trait of human hands—we have the capability to handle something delicate, such as an egg, but we’re also able to hold a baseball bat with enough strength to hit a baseball and send it flying. Scientists have now found a way to make a robotic hand share this same characteristic.   About the Shock-Absorbing Gripper The new gripper was developed by a team of scientists from the University at Buffalo led by Associate Professor Ehsan Esfahani, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. A new study in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics highlights the design of the gripper. The two-fingered robotic hand is able to absorb energy from impacts during any collision by adjusting the firmness of its grip.  How the Gripper Uses Magnets Rather than having two fixed fingers, the fingers on the gripper have a magnetic base. Two neodymium magnets push against the finger, creating an air gap. This gap then creates the effect of a spring. To adjust the grip, the magnets can be adjusted to increase or decrease space.  Benefits of Magnet Grippers The magnet gripper is an improvement for factories, warehouses, and other places where humans work in conjunction with machines on an assembly line. “Our robotic gripper mimics the human hand’s ability to adjust the stiffness of the grip. These grippers are designed for collaborative robots that work together with people,” says Esfahani. It also helps to improve safety in industrial settings.  What’s Next? Now, the robotic gripper technology is being commercialized for use with third-party robotic arms. The team received $55,000 from the Buffalo Fund: Accelerator to further develop the product. To stay up-to-date on this story and other magnetic findings, visit the magnets in the news section of our blog or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.