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Impressive Robot Hand From Shadow
kkleiner writes "The Shadow Dextrous Hand is a robotic arm that allows for fine motor control and precise movements. It's accurate enough to pick up an egg, screw in a light bulb, or thread a needle. Even cooler, researchers can control it with a 'Cyber glove,' allowing for 24 distinct human movements that mimic the user's own hand. A British based company, Shadow, has been displaying the hand for several years now, and recently demonstrated its latest model at IREX 2009. The hand, toted as the world's most advanced, is available for sale to researchers (pricing has not been made public)."
One of these, a rubber glove, lube and a bottle of wine and I'm set.
This might be something to remember if your father ever cuts off your hand.
robot hand + machine-written journalism = infinite fun!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch.
Q: how many robot hands does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: Just one... didn't you RTFA?
Hey douchebag, that's not true at all. I've got egg all over my desk, my monitor, my pants, and my shirt now.
Of course, it could just be because I used my masturbating hand to do it... that hand is much stronger.
Anyway, it's not the distribution of force over the shell that makes hand-crushing an egg difficult. It's the fact that most people simply can't generate enough force at that position due to how the hand is shaped -- a lot of the force is dispersed by deforming the hand tissue, not the egg. The trick is to have the narrow end of the egg towards your thumb, and to squeeze like you're milking a cow but with the palm, not with the fingers). This loads the first portion of the force exerted into deforming your palm, and the last portion is almost entirely directed into the egg.
Note also that a robotic hand does not have the physiological limitations a human hand does.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
It is also impossible to crush an egg against your own eye socket, or in your armpit, as these perfectly cup the egg, again dissipating the forces.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Blah blah cyberdyne blah blah
Just trying to get it out of the way.
Note also that a robotic hand does not have the physiological limitations a human hand does.
To be more accurate, a robot hand does not have the same limitations as a human hand. For instance, while camping, a little warm bacon grease from the skillet will suffice to allow the human hand to fulfill it's duties. What kind of a battery pack would you need to drag along with this thing, and how much does it weigh? You'd probably need some kind of pack-llama to carry it, and if you've got a llama anyhow...
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Yep, I gotta hand it to them, this is the first model I've seen which isn't all thumbs. Looks like we've finally got a grip on this technology!
For instance, while camping, a little warm bacon grease from the skillet will suffice to allow the human hand to fulfill it's duties.
I didn't think it was possible to love bacon too much until I read this...
They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett