MIT’s Inflatable Robotic Hand with Real-time Tactile Control

Here is an inflatable robotic hand that gives amputees real-time tactile control. Engineers at MIT and Shanghai Jiao Tong University developed this low-cost neuroprosthetic hand to perform daily activities such as pouring drinks and zipping a suitcase. This robotic hand weighs half a pound. It took about $500 to build it.

This smart hand uses a pneumatic system that uses compressed air to inflate the fingers and bend them in specific positions. Sensors are used to measure muscle electrical signals. An algorithm is used to analyze the signals and relates them to common grasp types. The above video shows how this works.

[HT]