At Florida Atlantic University (FAU) engineers are developing new technology to activate the movement of robotic fingers that may boost the capabilities of future prosthetic devices. Most prostheses are built using rigid components in their interior, with flexion points produced by having gears or some other mechanical mechanism. The FAU technology uses shape memory alloys that bend in response to heat as the core of the finger, with a soft surround the shape of which is based on a 3D scan of a real finger.
Two molds were created using a 3D printer within which two long plates of the alloys are positioned. One flexes in response to being heated, while the other straightens out so that they work in unison. The result is cast within a soft material to resemble a normal finger.
The researchers tested the speed and flexion angles that were achieved by the new finger, showing great promise for use in future robotic prosthetic hands.
Study in Bioinspiration & Biomimetics: Anthropomorphic finger antagonistically actuated by SMA plates…
Source: Florida Atlantic University…