From Where I got Inspiration?

Many people must have encountered funcionality or reduced function problem after a fracture or injury. For example someone has got fracture in finger. After recovery his/her finger won’t move as it should. I myself have limited functionality in my right hand. I want to make a device or tool that would help and enhance physical functionality.

Courtsy : Shutterstock

What will it do?

My intent for this project is to help people so that they can do more by enhancing the functionality.

Who's Done What Before ?

Below are the previously done projects related to this project.

A project by Lara Tomholt at MIT CBA 2017.

Lara made a cool and very interesting Gripper with soft robotics. It was manual but it worked very well. Then taking inspirations from that I researched further about it. Learn more about her project using link below.

The King Actuator

Other Relevant Projects

SR Gripper : Toolkit

Soft Robotics : Merav Gazit

Soft Robotics Toolkit

Havard Bio-Design Lab Project

What Will I do?

Stage: One

Making support for the Wrist. This stiff casing would help to house electrical parts and also would help in supporting wrist. This would include CAD modelling, 3D Printing, Creating fabric casing for comfort.

Source : SourceOrtho.net

Stage: Two

Embeding system in casing. This would include CAD modelling, 3D Printing, Electronics.

Stage: Three

Adding mechanism and sensors and actuators. This would include CAD modelling, 3D Printing, Electronics, Coding

Source : ResearchGate

Components From Where Will It Come? How Much Will It Cost? (70 INR~1$) Process
3D Printing Supports to Stablize wrist (Modular) Will be made Material Cost 3D Printing
Fabric Glove Will be fabricated/Bought if needed. 250 Laser Cutting, Stiching
Main Final Board- AtMega328p, Copper board, Capacitors, Resistors Will be Made Available at Lab Soldering, Milling, Programming
Flex Sensors Already Made 20 Vinyl Cutting, Laser Cutting, Pasting, Soldering
Solenoid Air-pump Will be Bought 450 -
Silicon Platinum Elastomer Will be bought. (EcoFlex 30 or 50, or other Alternative.) 4000-6000 Molding Casting, 3D Printing, CNC

Challenges

Generating enough motor power to help the motion.

Making Minimal System.

Understanding and filtering signals and generating output through air.

Since I am architecture student, it would be challenge for me to understand and deliever electronic system and coding part.

Evaluation Statement Or Aim

I would try to achive the finger movement as above.

Future Add-on

Under the spirit of Spiral Development, I would try to add more things to project.

As I already have the Flex sensor, I can possibly plug in Display/Charlie Plex and through that I can convert guestures into Text, That would help people using sign language to communicate.