Apparatus and method of selectably holding and releasing objects

Transfer elements include an adhesion element having a higher Young's modulus at a lower temperature and a lower Young's modulus at a higher temperature. Heating elements are operable to change an operating temperature of each adhesion element in response to an input. A controller is coupled to provide the inputs to the heating elements to cause a change in temperature at least between the higher and lower temperature. The change in temperature causes the transfer elements to selectably hold objects to and release the objects in response to changes between the higher and lower Young's moduli of transfer elements