FLEXGRIP · Origami-Enabled Gripping for Industrial Automation

FLEXGRIP builds on breakthroughs from the ERC-CoG-funded SFOAM project to introduce a new class of scalable robotic grippers inspired by origami design. Instead of relying on bulky sensors, complex control, or energy-intensive actuators, FLEXGRIP exploits folding kinematics and geometric nonlinearity to adapt seamlessly to objects of different shapes, sizes, and materials. The result is a lightweight, hybrid rigid-soft design that combines the strength and payload of rigid grippers with the delicacy and versatility of soft ones.This technology addresses critical bottlenecks in automation. In logistics, it enables reliable picking and sorting of fragile, deformable, or heterogeneous items that remain a major challenge in e-commerce and warehouse operations. In automotive, it offers a route to automating tasks still dependent on human labor, such as handling cables, gaskets, foams, or fabrics, components difficult to grasp with existing technologies.The project is strengthened by collaborations with two leading industrial partners. One partner, a global robotics and automation provider, is exploring next-generation solutions for logistics and flexible manufacturing and has shown strong interest in FLEXGRIP’s scalable architecture. Their involvement enables early feedback, pilot testing, and validation of performance metrics such as grasping reliability, actuation speed, durability, and integration. We are also working with a second partner, a pioneer in origami-inspired manufacturing, to develop fabrication strategies that ensure precision and scalable production for real-world deployment. By merging adaptability, robustness, and efficiency, FLEXGRIP advances the state of robotic gripping while aligning with the vision of Industry 5.0: automation that is intelligent, sustainable, and human-centric, enabling safe collaboration between humans and robots in flexible, resilient production systems.