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)."

Comments

Re:I want one

[jollyreaper]

One of these, a rubber glove, lube and a bottle of wine and I'm set.

I don't care how much lube you use, your ass is still gonna be smarting after that.

Looks useful

[Anonymous Coward]

This might be something to remember if your father ever cuts off your hand.

Re:Egg fraud

[Red Flayer]

WARNING: Do not actually try this!!

Try it yourself, you can't crush an egg in your hand no matter how hard you squeeze.

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.