Page 12 - Highlights 2013
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Expanded scope of action for greater efficiency.
Natural movements, perfectly imitated by technology. The force of a machine combined with human
abilities. An intelligent robotic hand that learns. What sounds as if it is from a science fiction film is called
“Future Concepts”. And they are anything but dreams of the future. The ExoHand from Festo improves the
strength and endurance of hands. It expands the human scope of action. It can be safely manipulated from
a distance. This is extremely useful, especially for medical applications and industry. And it is one of the
results of the 20-year history of the Bionic Learning Network at Festo.
A practical system that lends a hand.
There are still many tiring tasks to be carried
out in assembly. These can quickly become
a daily challenge for older workers. The
ExoHand is there to help. It provides force
support and thereby prevents injury. And it
can do much more. In the growing market
for service robots, this system with its eight
pneumatic actuators offers exactly what
is needed: precise movements and thus
extreme efficiency. It comprises Festo
components that are already produced
in large quantities and are available at
low cost.
Force feedback for precision and safety.
With the ExoHand, complex tasks can be
performed from a large distance. And they
can be performed extremely accurately: as
a force feedback system, it is both a user
interface and a robotic hand. This means that
the forces can be transmitted to the hand in
such a way that the user has the sensation of
feeling the shape. Thus, the human sense of
touch can be used even over long distances
and at the interface between the real and
virtual worlds. The benefit to medicine and
industry is immense – from surgical proce-
dures over thousands of kilometres to the
safe handling of hazardous substances.
And that is just the beginning ...
Nothing is as efficient as nature.
Festo therefore founded the Bionic Learning
Network – a research network with universi-
ties, institutes and development companies.
The goal is to create innovative prototypes
and products by applying biological princi-
ples to technology. Automated motion
sequences can thus be made even more
energy-efficient and productive – with
completely new solutions for practical
problems. The focus is on three goals:
• The biomechatronic footprint for applying
natural efficiency strategies to automation
technology
• New technologies and manufacturing
methods as an inspiration for customer
innovations
• Development of energy-efficient and
biomechatronic products to the production
stage
For detailed information and the results of
our bionic projects, see
We learn from nature.
We unite biology and technology.
We provide inspiration for automation.
Bionics
