The existential angst of the robotic gripper—that nagging uncertainty over whether it’s actually clutching the prize or just grasping at thin air—is finally over. Rochu Soft Robotic’s “flexible bone” optical probe provides instantaneous, non-contact feedback, verifying a successful grasp with clinical precision. This brilliant bit of kit effectively puts an end to the classic “drop-and-hope-no-one-noticed” manoeuvre, a social survival tactic previously monopolised by humans at awkward cocktail parties.
