General Motors, NASA Roboglove Functions: Human Exoskeleton Technology Not Only For ISS, Aims Elimination Of Hand Fatigue

First Posted: Jul 12, 2016 04:58 AM EDT
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A roboglove is a General Motors and NASA collaboration project for the International Space Station. However, its applications can also be instruments for the health care and manufacturing industry.  Its mechanics were designed under a legal agreement made by General Motors and a Swedish medical technology company, Bioservo Technologies AB.

The General Motors -NASA roboglove functions by combining Bioserv technology and SEM Glove or Soft Extra Muscle Glove. The project was developed during the nine-year team-up of General Motors and NASA, where the "Robonaut 2" in 2011 was also manufactured, The Verge reported.

Thomas Ward, CEO of Bioservo Technologies, stated that combining the words inspired by space technology and NASA, General Motors engineers and Bioservo's medical technologists created a promising industrial glove that has potential to be of great use to the technology industry. He also described the new tech as a huge step to introducing the future exoskeleton technology.

Developers achieved the hand dexterity of the General Motors -NASA roboglove technology through the use of high-end sensors, actuators and tendons that mimic the anatomy of a human hand. One of the requirements for the roboglove was the ability to achieve dexterity and operate tools used by humans.

The General Motors -NASA roboglove function will be enhanced by Bioservo through developing a new grasp assist device. It will be used for industrial purposes, increase efficiency, at the same time reduce fatigue on hand muscles. Recent research proves that fatigue possibly occurs with just a few minutes of continuously gripping tools.

General Motors plans to become the first United States manufacturer of the articulated robotic glove and is planning to test some of it in their plants. Bioservo will market new gloves for numerous purposes were added grip strength is needed, including medical rehabilitation.

The General Motors -NASA roboglove update according to Kurt Wiese, vice president of General Motors global manufacturing engineering, will have the ability to decrease the force exerted by humans needed when operating tools. General Motors tested the roboglove in a plant before searching for a partner to aid in refining the handmovements, the General Motors official website reported.

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