The robotic hand is extremely dextrous and can be used to crush cans.
According to engineers at Ajou University, Suwon in South Korea, the device integrates all components required for responsive movement.
This robot can attach to any existing commercial robotic arm. It can do a range of tasks from crushing cans or grasping eggs, all the way through using scissors.
Team members believe the hand is capable of helping in many fields. This includes electronics, where it places smaller chips onto a circuit board using tweezers.
According to South Korean engineers, the device integrates all necessary components for responsive movement.
This robot can mount on an existing commercial robotic arm. It can do a range of tasks including grasping and crushing an egg and even using scissors.
Robotic hands used to require a variety of extra parts in order to become strong or dextrous. However, the new South Korean hand is able do both.
An earlier arm was also needed, but this team has designed the system so that it can be integrated in existing commercially viable systems.
“Interpreting complex human hand functions remains a challenging challenge in the field robotics,” the authors said.
“In particular, movement of the hand requires a high level of dexterity, which is necessary for performing many tasks that require a powerful gripping force, such as fine object grasping and tool manipulation.
Of the total 206 bones found in our bodies, 54 are located in our hands. Their muscle structure is very complex.
There are also ‘tactile corpuscles,’ which allow tactile sensations in the fingers when you pick up things or perform tasks. One is found every 1mm.
Many robotic arms that look like human hands were created to perform these tasks using robots. However, each design has its own limitations, including difficulty in integrating with existing arms or lack of mobility.
Many robotic arms that look like human hands were created to perform these tasks using robots. However, each design has its own limitations, including difficulty in integrating with existing arms or lack of mobility.
56 bones make up the body’s 206 bones. The muscle structure that drives them is complex.
Korean researchers analysed the existing robot hands and identified their strengths and weaknesses to determine core requirements for their next hand.
They concluded, “We determined that robot hands should have these desirable features: fingertip force, dexterity and controllability. We also recommend low cost maintenance. Compactness is also important.”
Uikyum and his colleagues created the robot hand called ILDA (integrated Linkage-Driven Dexterous anthropomorphic), which has 20 joints.
Although it was necessary to have a separate arm for earlier hands, the team has designed it so that it can be integrated with existing commercially-available systems
A team of Korean experts analysed the hands and identified key criteria to create a new hand.
This joint allows for 15 degrees freedom of movement. The hand also has a fingertip capable of exerting a force of 34 Newtons while being gentle enough to be able to cut a piece with scissors.
It is lightweight at less than 2.4lb, and compact at only eight-and-a-half inches.
The entire hand is made up of all parts. This allows it to be easily attached to robotic arms that already exist, without the need for additional components, like the forearms.
A series of experiments was conducted by the authors to show that the hands can grasp objects of different shapes. They also demonstrated the ability to grab and crush cans.
The joints provide 15 degrees of motion, while the fingertip of the hand can exert 34 Newtons of force. However, it is still delicate enough for cutting a paper piece with scissors.
All parts of the hand are included in the body, making it easy to attach to robotic arms that already have them, without the need for additional pieces such as forearms.
It was capable of picking up tiny objects with tweezer and cutting paper with scissors.
The authors stated that the ILDA’s grasping abilities were confirmed by its ability to squeeze the aluminum can and gently grasp the egg.
“In addition to this, different grasping techniques could be performed by the hand depending on the shape of the objects. The possibility to use everyday tools is determined by using tweezers or scissors.
Nature Communications published the findings.