A system for lifting a deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) from a surface (152, 252, 352, 452, 552), the system comprising: a support structure; first, second, third, and fourth arms (120, 220, 320, 420) coupled to the support structure, wherein the first and second arms (120, 220, 320, 420) define a first pair of opposing arms and the third and fourth arms (120, 220, 320, 420) define a second pair of opposing arms; first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) located, respectively, on the first, second, third, and fourth arms (120, 220, 320, 420), wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) is configured to contact the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550); and a fluid power driver operatively coupled in parallel to the first and second pairs of opposing arms via a fluid power system; wherein, when the support structure is positioned above the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) on the surface (152, 252, 352, 452, 552), the fluid power driver is configured to increase pressure in the fluid power system until the pressure in the fluid power system reaches a predetermined level such that: each of the first and second pairs of opposing arms independently closes a distance until the first and third inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) are in contact with a first side of the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) and the second and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) are in contact with a second side of the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550), and the first and second pairs of opposing arms exert a compressive force on the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) that causes the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) to slide up one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) to lift the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) off of the surface (152, 252, 352, 452, 552); and characterized in that the first and second pairs of opposing arms are center-justified such that movement of the first arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the second arm (120, 220, 320, 420) causes a corresponding movement of the second arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the first arm (120, 220, 320, 420) and the third arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the fourth arm (120, 220, 320, 420) causes a corresponding movement of the fourth arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the third arm (120, 220, 320, 420). a support structure; first, second, third, and fourth arms (120, 220, 320, 420) coupled to the support structure, wherein the first and second arms (120, 220, 320, 420) define a first pair of opposing arms and the third and fourth arms (120, 220, 320, 420) define a second pair of opposing arms; first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) located, respectively, on the first, second, third, and fourth arms (120, 220, 320, 420), wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) is configured to contact the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550); and a fluid power driver operatively coupled in parallel to the first and second pairs of opposing arms via a fluid power system; wherein, when the support structure is positioned above the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) on the surface (152, 252, 352, 452, 552), the fluid power driver is configured to increase pressure in the fluid power system until the pressure in the fluid power system reaches a predetermined level such that: each of the first and second pairs of opposing arms independently closes a distance until the first and third inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) are in contact with a first side of the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) and the second and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) are in contact with a second side of the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550), and the first and second pairs of opposing arms exert a compressive force on the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) that causes the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) to slide up one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) to lift the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) off of the surface (152, 252, 352, 452, 552); and each of the first and second pairs of opposing arms independently closes a distance until the first and third inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) are in contact with a first side of the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) and the second and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) are in contact with a second side of the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550), and the first and second pairs of opposing arms exert a compressive force on the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) that causes the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) to slide up one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth inclined surfaces (130, 230, 330, 430) to lift the deformable object (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) off of the surface (152, 252, 352, 452, 552); and characterized in that the first and second pairs of opposing arms are center-justified such that movement of the first arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the second arm (120, 220, 320, 420) causes a corresponding movement of the second arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the first arm (120, 220, 320, 420) and the third arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the fourth arm (120, 220, 320, 420) causes a corresponding movement of the fourth arm (120, 220, 320, 420) toward or away from the third arm (120, 220, 320, 420).