Stochastic Entanglement of Deterministic Origami Tentacles For Universal Robotic Gripping

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Boron, Alec, Zheng, Bokun, Zhou, Ziyang, Naughton, Noel, Li, Suyi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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_version_ 1866910177627734016
author Boron, Alec
Zheng, Bokun
Zhou, Ziyang
Naughton, Noel
Li, Suyi
author_facet Boron, Alec
Zheng, Bokun
Zhou, Ziyang
Naughton, Noel
Li, Suyi
contents Origami-inspired robotic grippers have shown promising potential for object manipulation tasks due to their compact volume and mechanical flexibility. However, robust capture of objects with random shapes in dynamic working environments often comes at the cost of additional actuation channels and control complexity. Here, we introduce a tendon-driven origami tentacle gripper capable of universal object gripping by exploiting a synergy between local, deterministic deformation programming and global, stochastic entanglements. Each origami tentacle is made by cutting thin Mylar sheets; It features carefully placed holes for routing an actuation tendon, origami creases for controlling the deformation, and a tapered shape. By tailoring these design features, one can prescribe the shrinking, bending, and twisting deformation, eventually creating deterministic coiling with a simple tendon pull. Then, when multiple coiling tentacles are placed in proximity, stochastic entanglement emerges, allowing the tentacles to braid, knot, and grip objects with random shapes. We derived a simulation model by integrating origami mechanics with Cosserat rods to correlate origami design, tendon deformation, and their collective gripping performance. Then, we experimentally tested how these coiling and entangling origami tentacles can grasp objects under gravity and in water. A stow-and-release deployment mechanism was also tested to simulate in-orbit grasping. Overall, the entertaining origami tentacle gripper presents a new strategy for robust object grasping with simple design and actuation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_26897
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Stochastic Entanglement of Deterministic Origami Tentacles For Universal Robotic Gripping
Boron, Alec
Zheng, Bokun
Zhou, Ziyang
Naughton, Noel
Li, Suyi
Robotics
Systems and Control
Origami-inspired robotic grippers have shown promising potential for object manipulation tasks due to their compact volume and mechanical flexibility. However, robust capture of objects with random shapes in dynamic working environments often comes at the cost of additional actuation channels and control complexity. Here, we introduce a tendon-driven origami tentacle gripper capable of universal object gripping by exploiting a synergy between local, deterministic deformation programming and global, stochastic entanglements. Each origami tentacle is made by cutting thin Mylar sheets; It features carefully placed holes for routing an actuation tendon, origami creases for controlling the deformation, and a tapered shape. By tailoring these design features, one can prescribe the shrinking, bending, and twisting deformation, eventually creating deterministic coiling with a simple tendon pull. Then, when multiple coiling tentacles are placed in proximity, stochastic entanglement emerges, allowing the tentacles to braid, knot, and grip objects with random shapes. We derived a simulation model by integrating origami mechanics with Cosserat rods to correlate origami design, tendon deformation, and their collective gripping performance. Then, we experimentally tested how these coiling and entangling origami tentacles can grasp objects under gravity and in water. A stow-and-release deployment mechanism was also tested to simulate in-orbit grasping. Overall, the entertaining origami tentacle gripper presents a new strategy for robust object grasping with simple design and actuation.
title Stochastic Entanglement of Deterministic Origami Tentacles For Universal Robotic Gripping
topic Robotics
Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.26897