Scientists developed robotic thumb to enhance work productivity

Scientists at the Cambridge Univeristy developed an extra robotic thumb to enhance work productivity. They have designed an extremely controlled and user-friendly artificial thumb.

Tamar Makin is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Cambridge University. She stated this artificial robotic thumb can also benefit underprivileged people.

According to Tamar, these technologies present great new opportunities for society. But they must think of ways to help everyone equally, particularly marginalized communities, usually left out of innovative research and development.

*The robotic thumb is not available for disabled body people*

Tamar said this thumb is for able-bodied people with two hands and five fingers. Hence, their purpose is to help them perform tasks rapidly.

According to the research team, their goal is to go beyond the limits of our flesh and blood bodies and give you a whole new way to connect with the world.

The researchers say a pressure sensor under each big toe or foot controls the third thumb. Pressure from the right toe pulls the robotic thumb across the hand.

However, the thumb is pulled up toward the fingers by the pressure from the left toe. How much the robotic thumb moves depends on how much pressure is put on it.

Tamar said the robotic thumb is helpful to those who depend on manual skills to complete work tasks with their hands. They are particularly enthusiastic about the potential applications of thumb usage to improve productivity in work environments.

This implies anyone from manual laborers trying to solder a complicated kit, or surgeons juggling a lot of instruments at once. Around six hundred people tried this robotic thumb and performed tasks successfully while wearing it.

However, only four could not wear it properly due to size issues. The other successful ratio shows how efficient and convenient this thumb is to help most people who want to perform tasks beyond human capability.

*Robotic thumb facilitates completing speedy work tasks*

Click here to read the updates on AI Biomimetic Olfactory Chips that enable robots to smell like humans

This research experiment has publication in Science Robotics. It showed that 98% of participants successfully manipulated the objects with the extra thumb in the first minute of use, regardless of age or handedness. Researchers gave this thumb the name of “third thumb.”

They performed tasks involving picking up pegs from a board and handling various objects once instantly. Scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit of Cambridge University developed this extra robotic thumb.

They are also optimistic about the potential implications of the third thumb, expanding them to highly skilled professional environments.