Fraunhofer IWS develops bionic grippers for sensitive applications in industry and research

The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) in Dresden is currently developing a new generation of artificial grippers inspired by bionic principles. These grippers should be able to “feel” with the help of 3D printing and dispensing technologies and are intended for use in a wide range of applications – from harvesting robots and marine research to missions to Mars. In the “BioGrip” project, gripper structures are being designed that can grasp objects sensitively and recognize their shape and pressure resistance, similar to a human hand.

When designing the grippers, the researchers are relying on the so-called “Finray effect”, which was derived from the movement of certain fish fins. These fins react to external pressure with a counter-movement, which enables a gentle enclosure of the object. The gripper structure itself is created in 3D printing using fused filament fabrication (FFF) from flexible polyurethane. The finest silver sensors are then applied to the surfaces using dispensing pressure, which serve as touch sensors and for detecting curvature and pressure.

“Technological advances in additive manufacturing now make it possible to adapt many more biological concepts than before,” emphasizes mechatronics engineer Hannes Lauer from the Fraunhofer IWS, who is supervising the BioGrip project. “Nature is full of solutions. If we as engineers get stuck, it’s always worth looking at their concepts.”

In addition to the BioGrip project, the Fraunhofer IWS is also working on other bionic applications. For example, the scientists are researching self-cleaning filters for sewage treatment plants that could remove microplastics from wastewater. The way these filters work is based on the natural structure of fish such as the paddlefish, which separate food particles from the water using eddy currents.

Moritz Greifzu, Group Leader Process Chains and Product Design, adds: “Bioinnovation processes often take several years and currently still require a lot of funding and, above all, interdisciplinary collaboration. The aim here is to train a new generation of bionics experts who have a strong network and experience with complete innovation processes.”

The bionic grippers are to be used in various industries in the future. They could autonomously collect samples on Mars, gently process fruit in the food industry or safely grip marine organisms for biological research. Researchers and industrial partners see these developments as valuable solutions that could increase both automation and precision in sensitive areas.