A U.K. teenager who was born without a left hand asked Ross Brawn, boss of F1 team Mercedes GP Petronas, for a bionic hand in exchange for putting the company logo on it. And, as they say, fortune favors the bold, so he got his hand. Although the team did not directly fund the bionic hand, they helped out raising the funds and worked with Touch Bionics, to design a customized version of their i-LIMB Pulse.
The i-LIMB Pulse, which we have written about before, is one of the most advanced bionic hands available and is controlled by electrodes on the inside of the socket that detect muscular impulses. Each finger is powered by an individual motor, which allows the digits to move independently. It can be connected to a computer through Bluetooth to analyze strength and movements, and supports loads up to 90 kg. It, among other things, enables patients to write and draw, tie shoe laces and catch a ball. The version received by the kid has a see-through outer-shell and will get a little Mercedes badge by the wrist. Meanwhile, after touring the Mercedes factory and meeting Michael Schumacher, he now hopes to pursue a career as an engineer with F1.
The Telegraph: F1 fan receives bionic hand from Mercedes team…
Flashback: i-LIMB Pulse, the Bionic Hand Improved