Observe: Researchers employ inventiveness to confront a stubborn predicament.
In a groundbreaking development, a team of researchers, led by David Gruber and Robert Wood, have created a new type of robotic hand designed for tasks in areas where humans can't scuba dive. These soft robotic hands, made primarily of silicone rubber, fiberglass, and Kevlar fibers, have been successfully used to collect samples on deep reefs, down to about 150 meters (500 feet).
The robotic hands are flexible and adaptable, mimicking biological softness and compliance to enable delicate manipulation. They can be pressurized with seawater to turn on and off, and to mimic the movements of fingers and a snake's curl. These hands are robust, being able to withstand freezing, being run over by a car, and being lit on fire without damage.
The development of these robotic hands was supported by an Innovation Challenge Grant from a specific website. The grant is given to two or more explorers who collaborate on a project. Robert Wood, one of the developers, is also the founder of the Microrobotics Lab at Harvard University.
The robotic hands were first tested in tanks in March 2015 and then taken to the Red Sea in May for a successful expedition. The developers took 20 or 30 robotic hands in a duffel bag on the expedition to test them out.
These robotic hands have potential applications not only in underwater exploration but also above water. Examples include agriculture, biological sampling, and picking fruit or leaves. They could be used for handling delicate materials without spending a lot of time setting up.
The robotic hands also have potential applications in underwater archaeology, where gentleness is important. They are designed to gather coral samples more delicately than traditional robots, and in places humans can't reach. In fact, they have been tested down past 800 meters (2,600 feet) without any problems.
The robotic hands are described in a new paper in the journal Soft Robotics. At a cost of around $2 each, these affordable tools are set to revolutionise various industries.
