Credit image: Festo website
A few years back I remember reading about this FlexShapeGripper develop by the company Festo. The idea behind this robotic grip is a vacuum type of plastic deformation. It’s a bio-inspired technology as it is the way a chameleon’s tongue is working to grab a bug. The video on their website is pretty amazing and you can see many different example of this robotic capabilities.
A glimpse into the future of limb loss
In a world where innovation knows no bounds, the field of prosthetics is experiencing a remarkable transformation. I am living in Vietnam as I’m writing this article, and I see may people and children having a limb loss. This make me very empathetic and I want to help. As a designer, I’ve been driven by a profound desire to empower individuals with limb loss, and I’m thinking about the simplicity of use of this chameleon’s type of tongue gripper.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for this design stems from a deep-seated empathy for those who have lost limbs. I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges they face in their daily lives, from simple tasks like holding a cup of coffee to complex activities like playing a musical instrument. The current generation of prosthetics, while functional, often lacks the intuitive feel and aesthetic appeal that can significantly enhance a user’s quality of life. Actual prosthetics are often human-like hand, with fingers and phalanges. However this is a highly complex mechanisms to make it work, and very sensitive in action. I mean the way a finger move around is pretty impressive, and I don’t see any easy mechanism that could redo this in a human made machinery. If we want to make it durable, strong and reliable, like a natural hand grip would be, we have to think different and to use material intelligence.
A Design Philosophy Rooted in Human-Centered Innovation
I believe that a prosthesis should not merely replace a missing limb but should seamlessly integrate with the user’s body, minds, and physical capabilities. There is many achievements in this area, with new neural technology, high end sensors, 3 axis motors and other beauty. For a lot of people, reaching those expensive medical solution might be impossible. I want to focus on a designer point of view, with the reply of one function of a hand: grabbing something. To achieve this, I’ve focused on three key principles:
- Intuitive Control: The prosthesis should respond to subtle muscle movements, allowing for precise and natural control. Thus moving a complex things like a hand with fingers seems hard to reproduce, a person can still move the muscle until the limb is cut. Creating a desire connection between those movement and a control grip will be the first challenge to adjust between the user and the machine.
- Sensory Feedback: To naturally grab an object, even more with a arm that doesn’t look or act like a human arm, we need to incorporate a way to give the user a direct feedback of the grip. If we can manage different level of grip, if we can fully release, how we can help relieve ghost pain through another physical representation of a hand, and if the user brain can adapt to a new shape.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The prosthesis should be visually appealing, minimizing the stigma associated with limb loss and boosting the user’s self-confidence. This is another challenge of acceptation, that should be verify as early as possible with the user.
A Glimpse into the Future
As technology continues to advance, the future of prosthetics holds immense promise. I envision a future where prostheses are not just functional tools but extensions of the human body, seamlessly integrated with the way we live nowadays.
However, significant challenges remain. Cost-effectiveness, regulatory hurdles, and user acceptance are key factors that need to be addressed. By collaborating with clinicians, engineers, and policymakers, we can work towards a future where everyone, regardless of their physical limitations, can live a fulfilling life.
This project is not just a technological advancement; it’s a symbol of hope, a testament to the power of human ingenuity. By pushing the boundaries of design and engineering, we can create a world where the limitations of limb loss are no longer a barrier to achieving one’s full potential.
I will start this journey of research, and update it in a new post. Let me know in the comment what do you think about this project, and if you have any suggestions or feedbacks!
