Activity 0.1: Grabber

For the first group activity of the semester, we were given a set of materials and told to create a grabber capable of lifting various objects. We were given approximately 20 minutes to create this device before testing it on the objects.

Materials Used: 2 x 21 inch flat wooden rods, rubber bands, duct tape, sandpaper, string, paper cup, kitchen sponge.

Objects Lifted: golf ball, dish towel, baby bottle, laboratory tube.

Grabber assistive device pictured. Device consists of two long flat wooden rods that are approximately 21 inches in length each. The wood pieces are rubberbanded together to allow for a mobility similar to that of scissors. At the end of each rod, there is a half paper coffee cup duct taped to the wood. Each paper coffee cup half has string woven across the surface (similar to a lacrosse net in design), a dish sponge along the top rim, and sandpaper over the woven portion. This design is intended to provide the device with as much friction as possible for grabbing. — Grabber assistive device. The wooden sticks are banded together with rubberbands to allow for a movement similar to that of scissors. Each end has a netted half-cup with a sponge around the rim and sandpaper across the net. This design is intended to provide maximum tension, friction, and pressure to allow for effective gripping.

Two female members of the team pose with the grabber device they helped create. One holds up the device and the other holds up a peace sign. The professor can be seen in the background of the photo. — Team members Maya and Amanda posing with the grabber device.