Research Center "E.Piaggio" bridges academia and commercialization for robotic grippers

September 20, 2019 | Case Study

Much innovation in robotic grippers comes from research institutions. One reason for this is that advances in grippers are extremely difficult, and the slow pace of technological breakthroughs is not well-suited for a company that needs to solve its customers' problems today. While some startups have moved the field forward by implementing new software interfaces that simplify programming, the core robotics hardware breakthroughs happen in academic labs (such as the origins of Soft Robotics, RightHand Robotics, and Qbrobotics). On the other hand, companies like Shadow Robot Company have spent decades trying to build an anthropomorphic robotic hand (largely supported by government grants), but have achieved little commercial success.