University of Illinois

ChangHee Son

Seok Joo Kim

Placid M Ferreira

An adhesive gripper for pick-and-place maneuvers comprises one or more legs, where each leg terminates in a foot rotatably connected to the respective leg. Each foot includes a SMP dry adhesive comprising a shape memory polymer, and a rigid backing layer attached to a back side of the SMP dry adhesive, such that a front side of the SMP dry adhesive is available for attachment and release of objects. The adhesive gripper further includes a handle portion connected to the one or more legs, a release mechanism comprising a release ring within the handle portion, and one or more releasing rods integrated with the one or more legs for release of an object onto a substrate.

Adhesive gripper comprising a shape memory polymer for pick- and-place applications

A dry adhesive for attachment to a flexible adherend comprises a shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature (T) above 25° C. and a compliant backing layer attached to the shape memory polymer. The shape memory polymer is configured to form a conformal and/or hermetic contact with a flexible adherend at temperatures at or above the Tand to retain the conformal and/or hermetic contact during flexing of the flexible adherend at temperatures below the T.

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Urbana, IL, United States of America

ChangHee Son