A synchronized pneumatic parallel gripper device, comprising a frame having a first frame end, a second frame end that is opposite the first frame end, a first cylinder portion at the first frame end, a second cylinder portion at the second frame end, and a central portion that is between the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion; a first cylinder with a first piston rod located about the first cylinder portion; a second cylinder with a second piston rod located about the second cylinder portion; a synchronized linkage comprising: a first link having a first link end and a second link end opposite the first link end, wherein the first link end is coupled to the first cylinder; a second link having a third link end and a fourth link end opposite the third link end, wherein the third link end is coupled to the second cylinder; and a third link having a central pivot, a fifth link end, and a sixth link end opposite the fifth link end, wherein the central pivot is coupled to the frame between the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that the third link is rotatable about the central pivot; the fifth link end is coupled to the second link end; and the sixth link end is coupled to the fourth link end; wherein, synchronized motion of the first and second piston rods is facilitated by the coordinated operation of the first, second and third links; a first shoe coupled to the first piston rod; a second shoe coupled to the second piston rod; a channel in the first shoe that is configured to couple the first piston rod to the shoe without any additional coupling elements; and a channel in the second shoe that is configured to couple the second piston rod to the shoe without any additional coupling elements; wherein the synchronized motion of the first and second shoes results in either closing or opening of the gripper, and wherein the synchronized motion of the first and second shoes is facilitated by the coordinated operation of the first and second shoe via the first, second, and third links. a frame having a first frame end, a second frame end that is opposite the first frame end, a first cylinder portion at the first frame end, a second cylinder portion at the second frame end, and a central portion that is between the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion; a first cylinder with a first piston rod located about the first cylinder portion; a second cylinder with a second piston rod located about the second cylinder portion; a synchronized linkage comprising: a first link having a first link end and a second link end opposite the first link end, wherein the first link end is coupled to the first cylinder; a second link having a third link end and a fourth link end opposite the third link end, wherein the third link end is coupled to the second cylinder; and a third link having a central pivot, a fifth link end, and a sixth link end opposite the fifth link end, wherein the central pivot is coupled to the frame between the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that the third link is rotatable about the central pivot; the fifth link end is coupled to the second link end; and the sixth link end is coupled to the fourth link end; wherein, synchronized motion of the first and second piston rods is facilitated by the coordinated operation of the first, second and third links; a first link having a first link end and a second link end opposite the first link end, wherein the first link end is coupled to the first cylinder; a second link having a third link end and a fourth link end opposite the third link end, wherein the third link end is coupled to the second cylinder; and a third link having a central pivot, a fifth link end, and a sixth link end opposite the fifth link end, wherein the central pivot is coupled to the frame between the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that the third link is rotatable about the central pivot; the fifth link end is coupled to the second link end; and the sixth link end is coupled to the fourth link end; wherein, synchronized motion of the first and second piston rods is facilitated by the coordinated operation of the first, second and third links; the central pivot is coupled to the frame between the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that the third link is rotatable about the central pivot; the fifth link end is coupled to the second link end; and the sixth link end is coupled to the fourth link end; wherein, synchronized motion of the first and second piston rods is facilitated by the coordinated operation of the first, second and third links; a first shoe coupled to the first piston rod; a second shoe coupled to the second piston rod; a channel in the first shoe that is configured to couple the first piston rod to the shoe without any additional coupling elements; and a channel in the second shoe that is configured to couple the second piston rod to the shoe without any additional coupling elements; wherein the synchronized motion of the first and second shoes results in either closing or opening of the gripper, and wherein the synchronized motion of the first and second shoes is facilitated by the coordinated operation of the first and second shoe via the first, second, and third links.