Self-learning robot hand & co. in Hanover

© Festo

Festo's 'BionicSoftHand' is pneumatically operated so that it can interact safely and directly with humans. Unlike the human hand, it is not made of bone; its fingers are made of flexible bellows structures with air chambers. The bellows in the fingers are enclosed by a special 3D textile sheath, which is knitted from both elastic and high-strength threads. This allows the robot to use the textile to determine exactly where the structure expands and thus develops force and where it is prevented from expanding. This makes the hand light, flexible, adaptable and sensitive, but, according to Festo, still capable of exerting strong forces.