Medical Robotics

Vanderbilt's Steam-Powered Prosthetic Arm

Posted 22 Aug 2007 at 13:38 UTC by Rog-a-matic Share This

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.

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