The Shadow Hand

The Shadow Hand is the closest robot Hand to the human Hand available. It provides 24 movements, allowing a direct mapping from a human to the robot. The Shadow Hand has integrated sensing and position control, allowing precise control from off-board computers, or integration into your existing robot platform. The Shadow Hand contains an integrated bank of 40 Air Muscles which make it move. The muscles are compliant, which allows the Hand to be used around soft or fragile objects.

The Shadow Dexterous Hand is an advanced robot hand system that reproduces all the movements of the human hand and provides comparable force output and sensitivity. This means it can pick up or handle small to medium sized objects and perform precision tasks, so robots using it can have the versatility of humans.
The sensitivity and compliance of the Hand makes it possible for us to manipulate delicate objects such as fruit and eggs. For the same reason, the Hand is safe around human beings, since it is less strong than a person.

A remote system using the Shadow Hand technology will allow an operator to work in an inaccessible area. This could be a harmful environment where radiation, toxic chemicals or biological hazards are present. The Shadow Dexterous Hand can also allow specialists to be present, whenever needed, anywhere across the world, even in places where humans can not reach. This way machine repair could be done for example on drilling platforms, inside wind turbines etc. Also medical examination, education and training by experts could be done on long distance. Even bomb disposal could be done this way!

Shadow’s objective is to have the Shadow Dexterous Hand as part of a whole system that would help people in their daily environment. It would be a great help, not only for the disabled an the elderly but also for working parents who would rather spend time with their kids than doing the washing and ironing.