The lamprey fish has already inspired gripping technology.
Meanwhile a Japanese research team has taken its lead from the tip of an elephant’s trunk (similar to others before) and equipped its automatic gripping arm with an internal eye in the form of a fisheye camera, embedded directly into the gripper.
Upon contact with sensitive objects, the camera not only captures their shape, but any deformations undergone by the gripping fingers during grasping. An AI then calculates both the ideal force and the force applied, allowing for easy adjustments.
Tests have shown the gripper can pick up single grapes, tofu and even individual playing cards. Tableware was also successfully cleaned.
Elsewhere, elephants have inspired the design of ‘cooling’ building tiles.
