UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PA, USA. A robotic device has just been developed by a group of engineering students which can help carry up to 40 pounds more. Its design may look intimidating which might make one think that it will surely be costly. However, the inventors behind the robotic arm said that they designed it mainly for ordinary people who need an extra hand to get the job done.
This battery-powered arm brace is attached to a backpack and works as an upper-body exoskeleton. Some say that it looks like a robotic device from a Sci-Fi movie and we all agree to that. To top it all off, this robotic arm device is called Titan Arm.
Titan Arm is not only designed to help people carry heavier objects with but also for medical reasons. It can help to restore mobility to those who have undergone traumas and at the same time, prevent any unwanted injuries from tasks that require lifting heavy objects.
The project was made successful by University of Pennsylvania’s Nick Parrotta, Elizabeth Beattie, Nick McGill and Niko Vladimirov. Parrotta also stated that the motivation behind the Titan Arm was due to the physical therapists and prospective users whom they spoke with. They also set out to develop a lightweight suit for the right arm that is affordable at the same time. Using 3-D printers and computer design programs, they were able to come up with components mostly made out of aluminum.
Making the Titan Arm out of aluminum made it lightweight and affordable which made it even more interesting. The final product that they were able to produce cost less than $2,000 and weighs 18 pounds. So far, the Titan Arm has won several recognitions which have generated a huge interest from potential users. The team behind the robotic arm aims to improve and perfect the system before offering it for public use. Upon completion, they are also considering a second arm to go with it for additional strength.
Invention | Titan Arm |
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Organization | University of Pennsylvania |
Researcher | Nick Parrotta & Team |
Field(s) | Robotics |
Further Information | http://phys.org/news/2013-12-students-robotic-arm-stronger.html |