Methods and systems for combined negative pressure and electroadhesion-based manipulation in manufacturing

A system for manufacturing an article, the system comprising:

• a first platform configured to receive the placement of a first article component thereon;
• a second platform having a first predetermined location for the first article component;
• an electroadhesive capture element, wherein the capture element comprises an electroadhesive plate comprising a planar electroadhesive surface comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed at the planar electroadhesive surface, and wherein a plurality of vacuum ports extend through the electroadhesive plate from a side opposite the planar electroadhesive surface and form openings on the planar electroadhesive surface, and wherein the vacuum ports are coupled to one or more negative pressure sources;
• and
• a robotic actuator coupled to the capture element;
• wherein the one or more negative pressure sources apply negative pressure at the side opposite the planar electroadhesive surface to generate negative pressure at the planar electroadhesive surface, and wherein the robotic actuator is configured to move the capture element to the first platform and the electroadhesive capture element is configured to capture with the planar electroadhesive surface the first article component received on the first platform, and wherein the robotic actuator is configured to move the capture element to reposition the captured first article component over the first predetermined location on the second platform, and the capture element is configured to release the first component onto the first predetermined location, whereby the first article component placed on the second platform is oriented for assembly into an article.