Robotic Hands Get Delicate

Robotic Hands Get Delicate

At http://www.science20.com/news_articles/robotic_hands_get_delicate-88628

By News Staff | April 3rd 2012 01:00 AM

Robots don't understand subtlety - what is effortless to a human, like pouring juice into a cup, is a challenge for a machine. While one hand holds the glass bottle firmly, the other one must gently grasp the cup.

Researchers at Saarland University together with associates in Bologna and Naples have developed a robotic hand that can accomplish both tasks and the actuator is barely larger than a human arm. They use a novel string actuator, making use of small electric motors to twist strings, making the new robotic hand suitable as a helper around the house or in catastrophic scenarios.

The robotic hand was recently presented during a meeting at the Forschungszentrum Informatik in Karlsruhe. 

"We wanted to impart our robotic hand with a broad spectrum of human traits. Its artificial muscles should be able to deliver enormous forces by simple and compact means," said Chris May, scientist at Saarland University's Laboratory of... ( more at http://www.science20.com/news_articles/robotic_hands_get_delicate-88628 )