Delft University of Technology graduate Rob Scharff designed a robotic limb that responds to human touch. Although the idea of a robot responding to a person is nothing new, Scharff has found a way to improve robot-human interactions by using tactile materials.
Scharff's device is a soft robotic hand that mimics the tactile element of human interactions. While most robots are made from rigid materials that force them to make unnatural movements, Scharff's design features soft materials. Beyond its soft touch, the robotic limb is also characterized by its biological design. Each element of the hand is designed to mimic human muscles and provide a more natural interaction. As Scharff explains, "This shaking of hands is used as a metaphor to show how the technology can be used to improve human-robot interaction."
Scharff's unique design presents a new way of thinking about the materials used to make devices such as prosthetics and orthotics.
Robotic 3D-Printed Hands
This Robotic Limb Can Shake Hands with Humans
Trend Themes
1. Soft Robotics - The use of soft materials in robotics presents disruptive innovation opportunities in improving human-robot interactions.
2. Biologically-inspired Design - The application of human muscle mimicry in robotic limbs offers disruptive innovation opportunities for more natural interactions.
3. Tactile Technology - The incorporation of tactile materials in robotics provides disruptive innovation opportunities for enhancing sensory feedback in human-robot interactions.
Industry Implications
1. Prosthetics - The use of soft robotics and biologically-inspired design can bring disruptive innovation to the prosthetics industry, creating more realistic and natural limb replacements.
2. Orthotics - The adoption of soft materials and tactile technology in orthotics presents disruptive innovation opportunities for improved comfort and functionality in assistive devices.
3. Robotics - The integration of soft robotics and biologically-inspired design in robotics offers disruptive innovation opportunities for more human-like movements and interactions in various applications.