Communications of the ACM
Hand That Sees Offers New Hope to Amputees
Newcastle University researchers are developing prosthetic limbs that will enable the wearer to automatically reach for objects without thinking.
Credit: Newcastle University (UK)
Researchers at Newcastle University in the U.K. are developing a new generation of prosthetic limbs that will enable the wearer to automatically reach for objects without thinking.
The new bionic hand is fitted with a camera that instantaneously takes a picture of the object in front of it, assesses its shape and size, and triggers a series of movements in the hand.
The researchers created the bionic hand using neural networks and showing the computer many object images. The researchers then taught the system to recognize the grip needed for each different object.
The researchers programmed the hand to perform four different "grasps" by grouping objects according to the type of grip that would be needed to pick them up.
The research is the first step toward the goal of developing a fully connected bionic hand that can sense pressure and temperature and transmit the information back to the brain.
From Newcastle University (UK)
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