When it comes to fluidic movement and dexterity nothing can match natures design. Or can it? British company Festo has designed a new ‘bionic’ arm, similar to Doctor Octopus’s, that closely mimics an elephants trunk.
CO Marvel Comics
The arm was designed with three segments to help achieve nominal movement. First of all the arm, made of three sections itself, uses air pressure instead of motors for actuation giving it the ability to stretch and contort by either filling or releasing air into its balloon-like air chambers. The hand or ‘fingers’ work on the same principle giving it the ability to grab a wide range of objects from the very delicate to the most durable using three different axis of movement. Lastly the unit is outfitted with sensors to measure movement and position giving the Bionic Handling Assistant a wide range of motion. The greatest thing about the unit is that it can be made to order using a 3D printer and has no steel or iron parts what so ever. Videos and a technical pdf giving more detail on the BHA can be found here: http://www.festo.com/cms/en_corp/9655_10218.htm#id_10218
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Pics courtesy of Festo, for the Elephant. And Marvel for the Doc Oc with Spidey.