Robotic Hand of the Future Will Approach Human Capabilities

An international research project is striving to create a robotic hand that could reproduce the abilities and movements of a human hand when manipulating objects.

Researchers at Carlos III University of Madrid's (UC3M; Spain), the Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris, France), and other institutions are participating in the developmental pathway towards autonomy and dexterity in robot in-hand manipulation (HANDLE) project, part of the Seventh European Framework Program (FP7). The goal of the integrated project is to reach an understanding of how humans manipulate objects in order to replicate its grasping and movement abilities in an artificial, anthropomorphic, articulated hand, thus endowing it with greater autonomy and producing natural and effective movements.

The prototype robotic hand the researchers are working with is made up of numerous high-precision pieces of mechanized aluminum and plastic, as well as sensor and movement systems. In all, it has 20 actuators and can make 24 movements, the same as a human hand. Its size is also the same as that of an average adult male's hand, and weighs approximately 4 kilograms. In addition to the desired technological advances, the researchers are also working with basic aspects of multidisciplinary research in order to give the robotic hand system advanced perception capabilities, high-level information control, and elements of intelligence that would allow it to recognize objects and the context of actions.

Several complex problems must first be resolved; in the first place, there is a lack of space. This is because the human hand is incredibly complete, which makes it a challenge to try to put all of the necessary pieces into the robotic hand and to integrate all of the actuators that allow for mobility similar to that of a human hand. Another problem is that there are currently no sensors on the market that are small enough to be integrated into the device so that it can have sensitivity similar to that of a human hand and thus be able to make precise movements. Lastly, without intelligence elements the device will not be able to function autonomously nor adapt its movements and control to the characteristics of the objects, such as their geometry, texture, weight, or use.

“My personal estimation is that it will take around 15 years of research into these areas to build a robotic hand that is able to perform certain complex tasks with a level of precision, autonomy, and dexterity that is similar to that of a human hand,” said Mohamed Abderrahim, PhD, head researcher on the UC3M team working on the project.

The research carried out by the HANDLE project's partners has brought about results that are very interesting in the area of visual perception, motion planning, new sensors, and acquisition of motor skills using artificial intelligence techniques. Nevertheless, important challenges still remain when it comes to integrating the results obtained by all of the partners into a single system, which is expected to be the result of the next two years of work.

Related Links:
Carlos III University of Madrid's
Pierre and Marie Curie University