Bionic elephant's trunk could be used as a robot arm

The Bionic Handling Assistant is the latest innovation to spring from Festo's Bionic Learning Network, which is an alliance of educational establishments and specialist companies tasked with exploring bionic technologies for future automation applications. The inspiration for the Bionic Handling Assistant comes from elephants' trunks - a fundamental part of the animals' olfactory system - which are muscular, flexible extensions to their upper lip and nose, with finger-like growths known as proboscides that enable them to grasp food and other small objects.

Festo's Bionic Handling Assistant employs highly innovative biomechatronics technology and introduces an entirely new concept whereby direct contact between machines and their human operators - whether accidental or intentional - is not hazardous. In the event of a collision with a human, the Bionic Handling Assistant yields immediately, without modifying its desired overall dynamic behaviour, and then resumes its operation. Unlike heavy industrial robots, the Bionic Handling Assistant is characterised by an excellent mass/payload ratio, provides smooth operating motion with more degrees of freedom, and makes very efficient use of resources.

Construction

The Bionic Handling Assistant consists of three basic elements for spatial movement, together with a hand axis with a ball joint, and a gripper with adaptive fingers. Each basic element comprises three circularly arranged pneumatic actuators tapering at an angle of 3 degrees; each actuator is supplied with compressed air at the interfaces of the basic elements. Opposing movements are effected by the loop-like design of the actuators, which act like a spring when the compressed air is exhausted. Their extension is measured by position sensors that form part of the spatial movement control system. In the hand axis, three further actuators are arranged around a ball joint; their activation displaces the gripper by an angle of up to 30 degrees. Festo SMAT safety position sensors register the travel and ensure precise alignment, and the company's VPWP proportional valves are used for pneumatic control. The overall result is a highly flexible system that can transmit high forces despite its lightweight design.

The Bionic Handling Assistant is manufactured using the latest additive rapid manufacturing technologies that facilitate the production of individual moveable system components from polyamide. This form of 3D printing makes it possible to cost-effectively produce intricate, complex products in small batch sizes.

A video of the Bionic Handling Assistant can be viewed at www.festo.com/cms/en-gb_gb/13254.htm. This page also provides detailed information about Festo's other bionic projects.