These cutting edge industrial robots bring a softer touch

MIKE: INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS CAN DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THEY HELP BUILD CARS, BUT THEY ARE NOT VERY ADAPTABLE. >> ROBOTS ARE GOOD AT WELDING AND PAINTING CARS AND GOOD AT PUTTING TOGETHER FOAM. WHEN YOU ASKED THEM TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR CHANGE IT UP FOR THEM, THEY CANNOT DO IT. MIKE: THIS IS THE CEO OF SOFT ROBOTICS, A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT MAKE ROBOTS, BUT MAKES EVERY ROBOT MORE USEFUL. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ROBOTS, YOU THINK ABOUT METAL HANDS THAT CRUSH THINGS, NOT THINGS THAT CAN HANDLE BAKED GOODS OR SOFT ITEMS OR BACKPACK. THE CHALLENGE IT ROBOTICS IS PICKING THINGS UP. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE A FRESH APPLE AND A SQUISHY TOY? ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH IT WEIGHS >>? NOT AT ALL. MIKE: SOFT ROBOTICS BREAKTHROUGH. THESE FINGERS MADE OF SURGICAL GRADE MATERIAL THAT CAME OUT OF A CHEMISTRY LAB, BUT WERE INSPIRED BY A SEA CREATURE. >> AN OCTOPUS IS GOOD AT PICKING UP COMPLEX ITEMS. IT IS NOT EAT A LOT OF INFORMATION. WHEN YOU BRING THAT CAPABILITY TO A ROBOT, YOU SOLVE PROBLEMS. MIKE: THEY CAN RESPONSE THE ITEM. SOFTWARE SELECTS THE ITEM. THE ROBOT ARM QUICKLY PICKS IT UP AND SORTED. THOSE GRIPPERS ARE CONTROLLED BY COMPRESSED AIR AND THAT SIMPLICITY MEANS ANY ROBOT CAN BE ADAPTED QUICKLY TO PICK UP ALMOST ANYTHING FROM FRESH FISH AND STATES TO VEGETABLES. SO DENTAL, THERE IS NO RISK IN SHAKING AT HAND. >> ROBOTS HAVE NEEDED TO KNOW THE SIZE, WEIGHT OF YOUR HAND, HOW MUCH FORCE TO APPLY, WHEN TO STOP. THIS DOES THAT REAL TIME. IT WILL NATURALLY CONFORM AND APPLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WHETHER IT IS A TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE WHAT YOUR HAND, A TOY CAR, OR BABY WIPES. AND VERY SAFE. MIKE: THEY SLOW DOWN THE CONVEYOR BELT SO WE CAN SEE IT SORT A VARIETY OF THINGS. AT ALL SPEED, IT WILL GO THREE TIMES AS FAST AND PICK UP SOMETHING AS DELICATE AS A CUPCAKE EVERY TWO AND A HALF SECONDS. >> PEOPLE COME TO US WITH PROBLEMS EVERY DAY AND WE LOVE SOLVING THEM. >> YOU SLUG THAT PUT IT DOWN? >> IT IS AMAZINGLY FAST. >> WHEN IT WAS GRABBING HER HAND, DID IT SQUISH HER HAND? >> NOT AT ALL. IT TOUCHES IT, IT FEELS WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO. IT IS AMAZING. THE OTHER THING THEY ARE WORKING ON IS SORTING ON MY RETURNS. 30% OF ITEMS BOUGHT ONLINE ARE RETURNED, 50% OF CLOTHING IS RETURNED. IT IS TIME CONSUMING. SOFT ROBOTICS IS DEVELOPING A SOLUTION YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT SOON THAT COULD DIFFERENTIATE OEDIPAL THINGS AROUND AND MOVE THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. MARIA: HE LOVES IT. MI