Underactuated anthropomorphic hands:

Actuation strategies for a better functionality.
People involved:
  • Mahmoud Tavakoli
  • Baptiste Enes
  • Joana Santos
  • Lino Marques
  • Anibal T de Almeida
In this paper, we present the design and development of the UC-Softhand. The UC Softhand is a low cost, Bionic and adaptive hand that takes advantage of compliant joints. By optimization of the actuation strategy as well as the actuation mechanism, we could develop an anthropomorphic hand that embeds three actuators, transmission mechanisms, controllers and drivers in the palm of the hand, and weighs only 280 g, making it one of the lightest bionic hands that has been created so far. The key aspect of the UC Softhand is utilization of a novel compact twisted string actuation mechanism, that allows a considerable weight and cost reduction compared to its predecessor.

Bones and joints of the human hand, DIP—Distal Interphalangeal joint; PIP—Proximal Interphalangeal joint; IP—Interphalangeal joint; MCP—Metacarpophalangeal joint; CMC—Carpo-Metacarpal joint.

First fabrication methods: The 3D printed index finger before casting the Urethane rubber (up); the finger after casting (down)

The new fabrication process of the fingers with the second approach—(a) A 3D printed endoskeleton embeds the elastic MCP joint (b) Then the PIP and DIP joints are filled with sponge and covered by an sealing sleeve (c) The exterior surface of the finger is formed by casting a resin in the mold (d) The finger bending.

The home made miniaturized electronics. (a) The drivers PCB, composed of motor drivers and input for magnetic encoders (b) The control PCB composed of a STM32 ARM Cortex-M4 STM32 Microcontroller, and a X-bee communication (on the back of the board); (c) The daisy chain magnetic encoders boards.

For more information please read this article:
Underactuated anthropomorphic hands: Actuation strategies for a better functionality

reference missing

Read