Ideas worth spreading

Meet the robot designed like an octopus tentacle

Carl Vause • TED@Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Everyday, robots perform tasks like picking apples, screwing lids on jars and sewing. But while robots excel at many things, designing them to grasp and handle delicate items has been a challenge. In this tech demo, robotics entrepreneur Carl Vause explains how the octopus tentacle inspired him to develop a machine capable of picking up the most fragile of objects.

Everyday, robots perform tasks like picking apples, screwing lids on jars and sewing. But while robots excel at many things, designing them to grasp and handle delicate items has been a challenge. In this tech demo, robotics entrepreneur Carl Vause explains how the octopus tentacle inspired him to develop a machine capable of picking up the most fragile of objects.

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Read more about the TED Institute.

About the speaker

Carl Vause

Carl Vause

Robotics entrepreneur

Carl Vause is the CEO of Soft Robotics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company that designs and manufactures robotic grippers capable of manipulating items of various sizes, shapes and weights without the help of computer vision. The breakthrough devices are crucial to the operativity of industrial robotic arms, providing the capacity to grab items without breaking, tearing or crushing them. Prior to joining Soft Robotics, Vause has held a variety of senior positions in technology and medical devices companies. He also served as a Naval Flight Officer with the U.S. Navy.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute

This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Read more about the TED Institute.