In a recent paper published in the journal Science Robotics, robotics engineers outlined their latest invention: a soft robot hand, known as the "Gentle Bot," that is able to not only touch fragile items, but also to sense the shape and texture of the things it comes it contact with.
Soft robotic technology is already used in warehouses to handle food and similar products, but the hand developed at Cornell has the potential to handle more delicate items than ever before. The technology, if developed further, could allow robots to directly interact with humans, or to squeeze into tight spaces. It could also make for better prosthetics.
