The BarrettHand grasper - programmably flexible part handling and assembly

Authors
Citation
W. Townsend, The BarrettHand grasper - programmably flexible part handling and assembly, IND ROBOT, 27(3), 2000, pp. 181-188
Categorie Soggetti
AI Robotics and Automatic Control
Journal title
INDUSTRIAL ROBOT
ISSN journal
0143991X → ACNP
Volume
27
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
181 - 188
Database
ISI
SICI code
0143-991X(2000)27:3<181:TBG-PF>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
This paper details the design and operation of the BarrettHand BH8-250, an intelligent, highly flexible eight axis gripper that reconfigures itself in real time to conform securely to a wide variety of part shapes without too l-change interruptions. The grasper brings enormous value to factory automa tion because it: reduces the required number and size of robotic workcells (which average US$90,000 each - not including the high cost of footprint) w hile boosting factory thoughput; consolidates the hodgepodge proliferation of customized gripper-jaw shapes onto a common programmable platform; and e nables incremental process improvement and accommodates frequent new-produc t introductions, capabilities deployed instantly via software across intern ational networks of factories.