Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Multi-Mechanism Robot Gripper Tested on Different Surfaces
By Wang Z et al.·2026·Research and Development Center, China·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Pneumatic-Cable-Hybrid-Driven Multi-Mechanism End Effector and Cross-Surface Validation.
Plain-English summary
This research focuses on improving wall-climbing robots, which are used in fields like aerospace and environmental monitoring. These robots need to stick to different surfaces, which can be tricky because surfaces can vary a lot in texture and material. The study introduces a new design for the robot's gripping mechanism that combines two methods: claws that grip onto rough surfaces and vacuum suction for smooth ones. This design allows the robot to easily switch between these two methods, ensuring it can stay attached securely no matter the surface it’s on. Overall, the new system shows promise for helping robots climb walls more effectively and reliably.
Abstract
Wall-climbing robots are increasingly required for applications in aerospace, high-altitude operations, and complex environmental monitoring, where they must maintain reliable adhesion and continuous mobility across surfaces with rapidly changing material properties and roughness. Achieving these demands requires lightweight systems with end effectors that integrate multi-surface adaptability and load-carrying capacity. Current single adhesion mechanisms are typically effective only under specific wall conditions, making it challenging to achieve stable, continuous adhesion and detachment on surfaces with significantly different roughness. To address this limitation, we propose a flexible, multi-mechanism coupled end effector driven by a pneumatic-cable hybrid system, integrating two complementary adhesion mechanisms-claw-based interlocking and vacuum suction-into a unified flexible structure. First, we develop the overall structural framework of the end effector and conduct finite element simulations to analyze key structural parameters of the telescopic cavity. We then establish a contact force model between the claw and vertical rough surfaces to clarify the interlocking adhesion mechanism and determine critical geometric parameters. Based on these analyses, a cable-driven adjustment mechanism is introduced to enable dynamic self-adaptation and assist with load-bearing during adhesion, enhancing the stability and load-carrying capacity under varying wall conditions. On rough surfaces, the end effector achieves reliable adhesion through claw interlocking, while on smooth surfaces, it maintains stable attachment through vacuum suction. Furthermore, it supports seamless switching between adhesion modes on different surfaces. When integrated into a wall-climbing robot, the system enables stable adhesion and detachment on both rough and smooth surfaces, providing a feasible solution for the lightweight, integrated design of end effectors for multi-surface adaptive wall-climbing robots.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41744586