Fluidhand: Prosthetic or Robotic Advancement?

Posted 2 May 2008 at 01:30 UTC by Rog-a-matic

An 18 year old patient at the Orthopedic University Hospital in Heidelberg is the first to test the Fluidhand prototype and compare it to the i-LIMB. The hand has a large contact area and a soft interface giving it greater grasping ability and a more life-like action. Actuators are mounted in the fingers instead of in the wrist eliminating the power transmission systems normally required for artificial hands. Beyond the intended prosthetic application, one has to wonder if this type of technology will eventually be recruited for robotic applications where having human-like qualities could improve the acceptance and functionality of an otherwise cold machine.