Researchers develop Baymax-style inflatable robotic hand

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Shanghai Jiao University have developed an inflatable robotic hand that is not only lighter than conventional neuroprostheses, with a metal skeleton and electric motor, but also significantly cheaper. Instead of controlling each finger with built-in electric motors, the researchers used a pneumatic system to precisely inflate and bend the fingers into specific positions. 

Initial tests allowed volunteers to perform everyday activities such as closing a suitcase, pouring juice, or petting a cat just as well as—and in some cases, even more effectively than—stiffer neuroprosthetics. The hand is made of commercial elastomer EcoFlex. It is soft, elastic, weighs less than 250 grams, and the components amount to around $500—just a fraction of the cost of conventional neuroprostheses.

Not long ago, we shared a virtual coffee with Christian Stray, CEO of HY5, who developed the world's first hydraulically-actuated prosthetic hand. He is driven by the conviction to develop sustainable solutions that benefit people in low- and middle-income countries, who do not have the same access to patient care as we do in high-income countries. 

Hand prostheses like those from hy5 and MIT are helping to bring us closer to this goal. Although MIT's design is still in its infancy, it seems realistic that mass production will take place in the coming years. Soft robotic technologies have tremendous potential to make prostheses very cost-effective for low-income families who have suffered an amputation. This kind of innovation creates impact—and that's exactly what we should optimize for.