Festo launches HPPH lightweight pneumatic gripper and introduces GripperAI software for robot grasping without programming.

Festo Corp. launched the HPPH two-finger pneumatic parallel gripper, weighing 1.5 lb. (0.68 kg), designed to integrate controls, sensing, and safety functions directly into the gripper body to reduce wiring and weight on collaborative robots. The gripper features a force-limited gripping mode of 31.5 lbf (140 newtons) and can handle objects up to 2.2 lb. (1 kg).

GripperAI, a robot-agnostic software, uses artificial intelligence to determine optimal grasping points for previously unseen or chaotically positioned objects without requiring programming or teach-in training. The software operates on edge computing with minimal hardware (a 3D RGB-D camera and CPU with >4 GB RAM for simple tasks) and can be deployed on robot CPUs, industrial PCs, or within the camera itself.

Würth Group, which has about 1 million parts in its portfolio, tested GripperAI-equipped robots to empty crates filled with mixed, randomly oriented items. The system identified each object, selected the appropriate gripper tool, and transferred items for packaging or sorting without manual intervention or pre-programmed object data.

The HPPH is available through Festo's website and the Universal Robotics Marketplace. GripperAI can be installed on-site or operated in the cloud, supporting REST interfaces for integration.