Robotic Limb

The Rex Bionics developed Robotic Legs

Rex Bionics exoskeleton — Robotic legs for people with mobility problems

Rex Bionics, New Zealand based high-tech company (was founded in Auckland), has developed cool robotic legs for people with mobility problems, who have lost the ability to move their own legs. This robotic legs are self-supporting exoskeleton that helps people with paralyzed legs sit, stand and walk again. The exoskeleton is fixed to a patient’s leg with straps and it can be controlled by the console that has a screen, a few buttons and a joystick.
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OpenBionics Affordable Robotic Prosthetic Hands

OpenBionics affordable prosthetic hands — 3D printed bionic hands for amputees, photo credit: OpenBionics

OpenΒionics is an open-source initiative and a nonprofit organization that has connected researchers from USA and Greece for the development of affordable modular prosthetic hands, that can be easily reproduced even at home by using a 3D printer, detailed instructions and inexpensive, but strong, flexible and durable plastic materials. The OpenBionics design very functional and light-weight robotic prosthetic hands, which costs between $100 and $200. Personally, I think their initiative really excellent and really appreciate what they are doing!
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The Luke Arm Prosthesis by DARPA and DEKA Research

As part of DARPA’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program, DEKA Research had created The Luke Arm, a hi-tech prosthetic limb with almost natural control mechanisms, that translate signals from a person’s muscles to the bionic arm. But unlike This innovative mind-controlled prosthetic arm, the DEKA “Luke” does not have an electrode neural control system, that is connected directly to nerves. The main signals come from electromyogram (EMG) electrodes, which record electrical activity produced by muscles. A built-in computer analyzes the EMG signals, interprets them and sends a control signal for prosthetic device to make up to 10 specific powered movements.
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Researchers created a highly anthropomorphic prosthetic hand

Researchers at the University of Washington have created a prosthetic hand that accurately mimics human manual dexterity, therefore perfectly suits as a robotic human limb. Scientists Zhe Xu and Emanuel Todorov 3D-printed polymeric bones by creating the mechanism of scanning a real human hand. The hand’s bones are moving by ligaments made from a strong plastic fiber, and a few motors control the movements of the tendons. This highly anthropomorphic robotic hand is controlled by a high-tech glove with built-in motion sensors. The total weight of the biomimetic robotic hand is less than 1 kg (942 grams) including the actuation system. Its proportions and movements are so accurate and that Zhe Xu and Emanuel Todorov believe that in the future amputees will receive a completely new prosthesis with the functionality of a real human hand! Besides the obvious application in telemanipulation in which human operator can directly transfer his/her own dexterity to the robotic hand, it could also help medical and biology research in terms of physically preserving personal biomechanical data and serving as the 3D scaffolds for limb regeneration research.
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Robotic limb that allows drummers to play with three arms

A wearable robotic smart limb was developed by Georgia Institute of Technology engineers and researchers. It allows a musician like crazy drummers to play with three arms! This robotic smart arm can be attached to a drummer’s shoulder and responds to his body movement and arm gestures. Additionally, a wearable smart limb responds to the sound of the music, it hears and automatically rises or slows down tempo of its movement.
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