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
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.