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Paul Victorey · 04-26-2001, 12:21 PM

The real problem is not that we can't mimic the hand's mechanical properties, it is that current on the market prosthetics use control systems that are essentially unchanged since the 1960s (there are slight improvements but no huge leaps). Current control systems can't mimic the hand's motions, so building hands as human-like as possible isn't done.

I came up with a design for a control system that looks very promising on paper as a replacement for the current mechanisms. Whether this can hold up to rigorous real-world tests remains to be seen. I may use this project as a Master's project for reasearch; I will be going on to grad school in the fall of 2002.

04-26-2001, 12:21 PM	#3
Paul Victorey Member (12 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: MN or WI Posts: 3,017	The real problem is not that we can't mimic the hand's mechanical properties, it is that current on the market prosthetics use control systems that are essentially unchanged since the 1960s (there are slight improvements but no huge leaps). Current control systems can't mimic the hand's motions, so building hands as human-like as possible isn't done. I came up with a design for a control system that looks very promising on paper as a replacement for the current mechanisms. Whether this can hold up to rigorous real-world tests remains to be seen. I may use this project as a Master's project for reasearch; I will be going on to grad school in the fall of 2002. __________________ Paul M. Victorey ------------------ I am not responsible for any problems that may arise as a result of following my advice. This includes, but is not limited to, computer failure, loss of data, nuclear war, famine, boils, no clean laundry, your daughter running off with a biker gang, or armageddon. Take my advice at your own risk.