Inspired by an elephant’s trunk, EU researchers created a universal gripper that is strong yet nimble

Strong enough to uproot a tree, yet sensitive enough to pluck a blade of grass, an elephant’s trunk is a marvel of engineering design. By replicating its complex arrangement of muscles, the EU-funded PROBOSCIS(opens in new window) built a universal gripper for use in industrial and healthcare settings. The project has now been featured in the CORDIS series of explanatory videos titled ‘Make the connection with EU science’.

“We developed a lightweight, soft robotic arm that can bend, twist and curl to grasp objects by wrapping around them,” explains project coordinator Lucia Beccai, from the Italian Institute of Technology. “This was achieved with only a few actuators, mimicking the elephant’s ability to perform complex movements with simple strategies.” The strong, fluid and precise motions offered by soft robotic limbs make them attractive for applications such as lifting patients from hospital beds, or working with delicate items such as fruit on a conveyor belt.