British university scientists develop ultra-powerful suction cups for robots moving heavy and complex objects

Engineers Study Octopus Suction Cups for Robotics

Engineers have studied the mechanism of suction cups on the tentacles of octopuses, which have been efficiently used by these mollusks to attach to various surfaces for over 100 million years. They have created artificial suction cups for robots capable of grasping, holding, and moving objects with complex shapes.

Artificial Suction Cups with Multi-Layered Structure

According to data published on the university’s website, these artificial suction cups have a multi-layered soft structure with a liquid system inside. They emulate the functions of the muscles and glandular tissues of the octopus, which researchers believe allow them to securely attach to various surfaces, including dry and complex ones.

Adding Sensors and Control Systems for Intelligent Suction Cups

The next step for researchers is to add sensors and control systems to these suction cups to make them more intelligent. They hope that their invention will be useful in industry and help expand the capabilities of robotic manipulators in various fields.