Japanese firm unveils artificial hand with air muscles


A Japanese robot maker on Tuesday unveiled what it called the world’s first prototype of an artificial hand with “air muscles”.


A Japanese robot maker on Tuesday unveiled what it called the world’s first prototype of an artificial hand with “air muscles” that can do even delicate work like picking up a raw egg. Squse, a Kyoto-based robot and factory automation manufacturer, said it has developed a 400-gramme (14 ounce) hand with five human-sized fingers with artificial fibres that can be controlled by air pressure.

“So far, robots have an image of helping people do heavy lifting, but we aim at delicate work as a human hand can do,” company president Mikio Shimizu said.

“Compared to motor-driven ones, air muscle hands are extremely light and less noisy,” Yokoi said, adding that they may be in practical use in about five years’ time.

Wonderful. Especially the light weight. One of the frustrations of using most prostheses is the weight of the critters.

Posted: Wed - June 27, 2007 at 08:56 AM