Vanderbilt's Steam-Powered Prosthetic Arm
	Posted 22 Aug 2007 at 13:38 UTC by Rog-a-matic

In an effort to circumvent the dismal power-to-weight ratio of batteries which limits what modern-day prosthetic limbs can do, a team of researchers at Vanderbilt have developed a power source based on the burning of hydrogen peroxide. The result is a 450 degree F jet of steam used to fill cylinders providing linear motion which is then converted into joint movements. Strength and speed are increased by a factor of 3+ beyond what existing commercial limbs can deliver.