Remember Thing from The Addams Family, the hand that walks by itself? Researchers in Zurich taught a real robotic hand to do this. This is the work of the Soft Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich.
How the hand is built
- five fingers and twenty controllable joints;
- together with the battery and onboard computer the whole structure weighs 818 grams;
- the fingers perform two tasks at once: they move the hand and keep it balanced;
- the artificial intelligence first learned the movements in simulation and then transferred them to the real device.
What it can do
The hand was shown on fourteen surfaces, including grass, gravel, tile and asphalt. It can turn and get up after a fall.
The hand also presses keys on the operator's commands and pushes a cube to a given point. For the second task it is helped by an overhead camera.
Why this matters
For now this is a research development, not a home helper on sale. But the idea is telling: a hand that moves by itself and protects itself when it falls could become the basis for robots working in cramped and awkward places. Details of the work are published in a scientific paper and on the lab's website.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the walking hand from Zurich?
A research robotic hand from ETH Zurich: five fingers and 20 joints; it moves on its fingers and keeps its balance by itself.
How much does the walking hand weigh?
818 grams together with the battery and onboard computer.
Can such a hand be bought?
No, it is a research development. For ready-made hands and grippers see our catalog.
