… But as efficient as these machines are, they still can’t hold a candle (literally) to the dexterity, sensitivity and gripability of the human hand. Take the industrial robots that work on automotive-manufacturing lines, for example. Their jobs nearly exclusively are to perform coarse assembly work — lifting body panels into place, spray painting and welding — while final assembly tasks, like wiring and installing interior panels, fall to more-dextrous humans.
But what if these industrious automatons were able to perform the tasks that only humans can currently do? What if we could design a robotic hand that’s just as good as a biological one? A number of researchers around the world are looking to do just that.
The primary challenges hampering the creation of a truly human-like robotic hand can be broken down into three distinct parts: the dexterity and strength of the physical hand itself; its sensitivity; and the system that moves it. Dexterity, when it comes to robot hands, determines how readily it can manipulate objects around it.
Similarly, sensation refers to how responsive the hand is to stimuli, and grip strength ensures that the robot can hold onto whatever it’s trying to grab without crushing it. These three capabilities must operate in unison if the overall system is to work efficiently.
Source: Engadget
