This remarkable vine-like robot could be a boon for care workers

Engineers at MIT and Stanford University have developed a vine-like robotic gripper that wraps around objects before gently lifting them.

The innovative robot consists of a pressurized box that releases inflatable tubes capable of expanding around objects before retracting to lift them.

The engineers have designed it to safely handle fragile objects like a glass vase, as well as heavier and awkwardly shaped ones like watermelons.

In what could turn out to be groundbreaking development for the care industry, it can even lift a human.

Compared to some of the other care-focused robots like the abandoned Robear, this new design certainly looks like a more serious attempt to address some of the challenges faced by those working in the care industry.

“Transferring a person out of bed is one of the most physically strenuous tasks that a caregiver carries out,” Kentaro Barhydt, a PhD candidate in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, said in a release. “This kind of robot can help relieve the caretaker, and can be gentler and more comfortable for the patient.”

The vine-inspired robot operates by switching between open-loop (extending and wrapping) and closed-loop (forming a sling and lifting) configurations. The loop-closing mechanism allows the robot to secure and lift objects or people without any disruptive repositioning or significant movement. Notably, the robot can even slide under a person lying on a bed before creating closed loops around the torso and legs to perform the lift. Watch the video below to see it in action.

As you can see, the robot’s soft, inflatable structure appears to make it ideal for care home applications, helping caregivers to move patients comfortably and safely.

The remarkable technology could also be modified to carry out tasks in agriculture, healthcare, heavy industry, and automated port operations, the team said.

MIT and Stanford University have yet to share a target date for commercial deployment of the robot, suggesting that a fair bit of development and testing is still required before there’s any hope of a meaningful rollout.