US Patent 10906191 Hybrid robotic end effector

A robotic end-effector to provide magnetic and mechanical finger grip. The end-effector has one or more magnets coupled to a palm, each of the one or more magnets having a magnet face to magnetically attach to a ferromagnetic object. The magnet face(s) define(s) a magnetic engagement surface with the magnet and the palm disposed on a proximal side of the magnetic engagement surface. A finger is pivotally coupled to the palm to grip the ferromagnetic object or another object. The finger has a deployed configuration wherein the finger is disposed distally with respect to the magnetic engagement surface and opposes the palm or the magnet face to grip the ferromagnetic object or other object. The finger has a retracted configuration wherein the finger is disposed proximally with respect to the magnetic engagement surface along with the magnet and the palm, and wherein the magnetic face forms an outermost contact surface.