RAPHaEL Robotic Hand Powered by Air


The RAPHaEL (Robotic Air Powered Hand with Elastic Ligaments) robotic hand was conjured by the brilliant minds of Virginia Tech, and it uses air to drive the hand's movement without the use of expensive or bulky motors/actuators. The entire system can operate on a mere 60 psi, where it is then guided by microcontroller commands so that it can open and close precisely, even down to the individual finger. One of the main issues with robotic hands to date is their inability to use the right pressure when handling certain objects, but RAPHaEL seems to be doing pretty well here, holding a light bulb without breaking it.

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