Arm Inspired by the Real Thing From: Servo Magazine - 01/2008 - page 8 Ever since the Barrett Hand - a three-fingered manipulator used extensively by NASA - was introduced in 1997, mechanical arms have grown more dexterous and complex, but still haven't looked or operated that much like the human counterpart. But an eerily lifelike one, even without any skin covering, has been brought to us by Germany's Festo Corp. The company is known primarily for its pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and industrial controls. But perhaps its most interesting accomplishment is the creation of Airic's Arm. Based on the real thing, it even has metal versions of the radius and ulna, the metacarpals, and the shoulder, and shoulder blade. One big difference, however, is that it is powered by 30 of Festo's "Fluidic Muscles", which are tbes of elastomer reinforced with aramide fibers. When you fill one with compressed air, its diameter increases and its length shortens, thus creating movement. This actually gives iric an advantage over the rest of us. When the arm contracts, it doesn't reauire any additional power to stay contracted; that is, it can lift something and hold it in place indefinitely. Festo intends to further develop the system by adding vision and tactic sensors and maybe even giving it a neck, a back, and a hip. A short video of the thing in action is presently on YouTube. Links: Festo Corp. http://www.festo.com Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVgg6xKHJKY4 Barrett Hand http://www.barrett.com/robot/index.htm RoboTouch - Barrett Hand http://www.pressureprofile.com/products-robotouch-systems-barrett.php Barrett Hand - BH8-260 and BH8-262 http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/successes/ss/9-056text.html Airic’s_arm http://www.festo.com/INetDomino/coorp_sites/en/ffeed49f2394ea43c12572b9006f7032.htm Airic’s_arm - video http://www.festo.com/INetDomino/coorp_sites/en/1e70ac4a67fcfb11c12572d0004d3d44.htm Festo Airic’s Robotic Arm http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/09/festo-airics-robotic-arm/ Festo's Bionic Arm http://www.tfot.info/pod/1024/Festos-Bionic-Arm.html