Aaron
de Miranda Colaço
‘Supernumerary robotic fingers’ is a robotic device worn around the
wrist and provides the user with two extra fingers. According to Harry Asada,
the mechanical engineering professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
who developed the project along with graduate student Faye Wu, “You do not
need to command the robot, but simply move your fingers naturally. Then the
robotic fingers react and assist your fingers”. It works using sensors
attached to the human hand to measure the position of the wearer’s fingers. An
algorithm controls the output from the sensors to the robotic fingers, moving
them in sync.
The extra fingers could grip a
jar while the other fingers unscrewed its lid, or they could hold an envelope
down while the others slit it open, or better yet, hold a steaming cup of
coffee while the other fingers stirred it.
While the robotic fingers could be used to assist people with limited
dexterity or disabilities, Asada believes it could also be useful to
“other healthy people” who want to increase their own capabilities.
Faye Wu used a glove fitted with position-recording sensors to extend
the hand’s biomechanical synergy from five fingers to seven. She was then able
to record data and develop an algorithm that allowed the device to learn which
hand postures required which robotic finger positions.The next step, they said, will be to develop a less bulky version.
They hope to make it compact enough for the fingers to fit into a bracelet or
watch and pop out when the user needs them. Now wouldn’t that be a neat little
trick!
Then we can finally be hand in glove with our
robot!
