UCL Scientists Develop Advanced Synthetic Touch, Magnetically Controlled Prosthetic Hand with No Artificial Skin

Sep 12, 2024, 11:39 AM

Scientists have made significant advancements in synthetic touch technology, which could transform healthcare. Researchers Helge Wurdemann and Sara Adela Abad from University College London (UCL) developed a bio-inspired haptic system that simulates sensations of touch with high sensitivity, requiring no artificial skin. Additionally, a major medical breakthrough has been achieved with the invention of the world's first magnetically controlled prosthetic hand, which can be controlled by the brain. This prosthetic hand utilizes implanted magnets and pattern recognition algorithms to enable sophisticated movements in users after amputation. The research includes a multiplanar mechano-vibrotactile system using SoftRobotics to deliver intuitive haptic feedback. The research has been published in prominent journals such as Nature Communications and Science Robotics.