Method and system for manipulating articles

An end effector comprising:

• a tube defining a channel between a first end and a second end, the tube comprising:
• a flexible suction cup movably positioned within the channel defined by the tube, the flexible suction cup configured to engage a surface of an item based on vacuum suction force generated through at least one of:
• the flexible suction cup and the channel defined by the tube;
• and
• a linear actuator mechanically coupled to the flexible suction cup, the linear actuator configured to:
• extend, the flexible suction cup towards the second end of the channel to position at least, a portion of the flexible suction cup, outside of the tube;
• and
• retract, the flexible suction cup within the channel to position the flexible suction cup within the tube, wherein the end effector is configured to:
• identify characteristics of the item, wherein the characteristics of the item includes at least a body shape of the item;
• and
• actuate the linear actuator based on the identified characteristics of the item to one of:
• position the flexible suction cup within the tube of the end effector when the identified characteristics of the item corresponds to a flexible body shape of the item, and
• position at least a proximal end of the flexible suction cup outside the tube of the end effector when the identified characteristics of the item corresponds to a rigid body shape of the item.

An item manipulation system comprising:

• a control system;
• an end effector communicatively coupled to the control system the end effector defining:
• a first end, configured to be engaged to a robotic tool;
• a second end defining an array of item grasping tools configured to engage with a surface of an item, wherein a first set of item grasping tools, from amongst the array of item grasping tools, is configured to be selectively actuated by the control system to:
• extend, outwards from the second end and further from, a second set of the item grasping tools, remaining from amongst the array of item grasping tools, to engage with a surface of the item based on a vacuum suction force generated through the first set of the item grasping tools;
• and
• retract, towards the second end to position the first set of item grasping tools in-line with the second set of the item grasping tools, wherein upon retracting, at least one item grasping tool from amongst the second set of the item grasping tools is configured to further engage with the surface of the item engaged to the first set of item grasping tools, wherein the control system is configured to:
• identify characteristics of the item, wherein the characteristics of the item includes at least a body shape of the item;
• and
• actuate a linear actuator based on the identified characteristics of the item to one of:
• position a flexible suction cup within a tube of the end effector when the identified characteristics of the item corresponds to a flexible body shape of the item, and
• position at least a proximal end of the flexible suction cup outside the tube of the end effector when the identified characteristics of the item corresponds to a rigid body shape of the item.