Robotics
Pick-and-place
ActivePublished: 9 September 2026Updated: 9 September 2026Published
Key
innovation
Automated picking up of an object from one location and precisely placing it in another — a fundamental, repeatable robotic operation in manufacturing and logistics.
Category
Robotics
Abstraction level
Pattern
Operation level
Robot control
Use cases
Electronics assembly (SMD onto PCB)Packaging and palletizingSorting and order picking in logisticsProduction-line handling
How it works
The robot locates the object (often with vision), grasps it (gripper or suction cup), moves it along a planned trajectory and precisely places it at the destination, correcting orientation and position based on feedback.
Problem solved
Automating repetitive, precise object transfer, eliminating tedious manual work and increasing throughput and accuracy in manufacturing and logistics.
Key mechanisms
Grippers and pneumatic suction cups
Vision systems and position correction
Component feeders
Grasp trajectory planning and execution
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
✓High throughput and repeatability
✓High precision (down to fractions of a millimeter)
✓Eliminates monotonous manual labor
Limitations
✗Difficulty with variable, soft or unknown objects
✗Dependence on good vision and calibration
✗Grasping in unstructured environments remains challenging