Development of a five-finger dexterous hand without feedback control: The TUAT/Karlsruhe humanoid hand

In order to realize performance gain of a robot or an artificial arm, the end-effector which exhibits the same function as human beings and can respond to various objects and environment needs to be realized. Then, we developed the new hand which paid its attention to the structure of human being´s hand which realize operation in human-like manipulation (called TUAT/Karlsruhe Humanoid Hand). Since this humanoid hand has the structure of adjusting grasp shape and grasp force automatically, it does not need a touch sensor and feedback control. It is designed for the humanoid robot which has to work autonomously or interactively in cooperation with humans and for an artificial arm for handicapped persons. The ideal end-effectors for such an artificial arm or a humanoid would be able to use the tools and objects that a person uses when working in the same environment. If this humanoid hand can operate the same tools, a machine and furniture, it may be possible to work under the same environment as human beings. As a result of adopting a new function of a palm and the thumb, the robot hand could do the operation which was impossible until now. The humanoid hand realized operations which hold a kitchen knife, grasping a fan, a stick, uses the scissors and uses chopsticks.