An inventory management system for manipulating inventory in a facility, the inventory management system comprising: a robotic inventory handler comprising: a first gripping element comprising a first anisotropic adhesive surface configured to generate a first adhesive force to adhere to an inventory item in response to generating a first shear force oriented to load the first gripping element in shear; a second gripping element comprising a second anisotropic adhesive surface configured to generate a second adhesive force to adhere to the inventory item in response to generating a second shear force oriented to load the second gripping element in shear; and i) a lifting assembly for moving the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item, the lifting assembly comprising: a first mechanical linkage connected with the first gripping element; a second mechanical linkage connected with the second gripping element; and at least one actuator configured to displace the first mechanical linkage and the second mechanical linkage away from one another for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item; or ii) a lifting assembly for moving the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item, the lifting assembly connected to a linkage connected to: a first rotatable element with the first gripping element disposed about a first convex surface of the first rotatable element; and a second rotatable element with the second gripping element disposed about a second convex surface of the second rotatable element, and at least one actuator configured to rotate the first and second rotatable elements in opposite directions from each other for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item. a first gripping element comprising a first anisotropic adhesive surface configured to generate a first adhesive force to adhere to an inventory item in response to generating a first shear force oriented to load the first gripping element in shear; a second gripping element comprising a second anisotropic adhesive surface configured to generate a second adhesive force to adhere to the inventory item in response to generating a second shear force oriented to load the second gripping element in shear; and i) a lifting assembly for moving the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item, the lifting assembly comprising: a first mechanical linkage connected with the first gripping element; a second mechanical linkage connected with the second gripping element; and at least one actuator configured to displace the first mechanical linkage and the second mechanical linkage away from one another for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item; or ii) a lifting assembly for moving the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item, the lifting assembly connected to a linkage connected to: a first rotatable element with the first gripping element disposed about a first convex surface of the first rotatable element; and a second rotatable element with the second gripping element disposed about a second convex surface of the second rotatable element, and at least one actuator configured to rotate the first and second rotatable elements in opposite directions from each other for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item. i) a lifting assembly for moving the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item, the lifting assembly comprising: a first mechanical linkage connected with the first gripping element; a second mechanical linkage connected with the second gripping element; and at least one actuator configured to displace the first mechanical linkage and the second mechanical linkage away from one another for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item; or a first mechanical linkage connected with the first gripping element; a second mechanical linkage connected with the second gripping element; and at least one actuator configured to displace the first mechanical linkage and the second mechanical linkage away from one another for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item; ii) a lifting assembly for moving the inventory item via the first and second gripping elements gripping the inventory item, the lifting assembly connected to a linkage connected to: a first rotatable element with the first gripping element disposed about a first convex surface of the first rotatable element; and a second rotatable element with the second gripping element disposed about a second convex surface of the second rotatable element, and at least one actuator configured to rotate the first and second rotatable elements in opposite directions from each other for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item. a first rotatable element with the first gripping element disposed about a first convex surface of the first rotatable element; and a second rotatable element with the second gripping element disposed about a second convex surface of the second rotatable element, and at least one actuator configured to rotate the first and second rotatable elements in opposite directions from each other for generating the first and second shear forces to induce surface tension in the inventory item.