Robotic assistive devices play a crucial role in supporting the daily activities of individuals with congenital disabilities or those who have experienced unfortunate accidents. Despite their benefits, achieving truly natural movements remains a significant challenge for these robotic assistive devices.

Professor Keehoon Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Convergence Science and Technology and Dr Seoyoung Choi, a research fellow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea, have made a noteworthy contribution to addressing this challenge. They have successfully integrated a wrist rotation module into a robotic prosthesis, allowing for more natural movements without straining the user’s body. 

The innovative prosthetic hand is tailored for a patient who lost their thumb and index finger in a car accident. This advanced prosthesis operates by interpreting signals to the muscles through sensors and determining the motion intention. Unlike conventional prosthetics, it incorporates a wrist rotation module, enabling patients to enjoy unrestricted movement of their wrists.

This advanced prosthesis operates by interpreting signals to the muscles through sensors and determining the motion intention. Unlike conventional prosthetics, it incorporates a wrist rotation module, enabling patients to enjoy unrestricted movement of their wrists.

The team’s prosthetic hand exhibited over a 30% improvement in hand function compared to a traditional prosthetic hand.