Esper Bioncs’ AI-powered prosthetic hand is a stylish product that can predict a user’s movement and intentions. (Image Credit: Esper Bionics)
Eyeglass wearers probably noticed their poor eyesight led to an appealing style of frames. Now, prosthetics are experiencing the same benefits due to wearable robotics and a stunning design combination. Esper Bionics, a New York-based startup developing AI-powered prosthetics, recently won a Red Dot Award: Best of the Best 2022 for establishing new design industry standards. The company’s products are extremely lightweight, incredibly dexterous, and have a very dignified design.
"The Esper Hand achieves a comprehensive functionality that comes astonishingly close to the natural movement of the hand," the Red Dot jurors wrote. "Its self-learning technology makes an important contribution to enabling users to carry out everyday tasks independently. Its technically elegant appearance makes the prosthesis a lifestyle product that the user wears with confidence. In addition, the design ensures gender-specific shaping by sensitively addressing anatomical differences."
The form must also work with functionality. Esper Hand has individual muscle signal detection capabilities, allowing it to achieve three times quicker control versus similar devices. It only weighs 380g, making it lighter than other prosthetic hands. Users can control the prosthetic hand through a non-invasive wearable brain-computer interface. Cloud-based software also individualizes the hand’s control.
Both AI and machine learning are boons for developing prosthetics. Generally, performance improves as a wearer uses the device more often. It also detects a user’s repetitive behavior pattern to predict their movements and intentions. Overall, this makes it easier to train for intuitive movements without relying on the wearer’s effort. A mobile app also offers controllability over the prosthetic hand. Of course, putting on this arm is similar to wearing stylish glasses, which serves as both an enhancement and stylish statement.
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