01.01.1970 //The prostheses of new generation of robots will work from the "rocket" engines
American scientific from the university Vanderbilt (Nashville, the state of Tennessee) they created the prototype of the prosthesis of hand, which possesses considerably larger possibilities in comparison with the existing developments. Artificial hand (image from the site of the university Of Vanderbilt) Studies were conducted under professor maykl's management Goldfarb within the framework of the multimillion initiative, financed by the agency of the promising defense developments of the Defense Ministry OF THE USA (DARPA).
On the assertions of scientists, the prototype is capable to raise the objects with a weight of up to 10-11 kilograms. For the comparison, the usual prostheses of hands, accessible today, can confidently retain load weighing 3-4 kilograms. Furthermore, new prototype is capable to carry out actions with speed, 3-4 times of that exceeding analogous index for the commercial accessible developments.
The prototype, created by the specialists of the university of Kanzaz, has much more than degrees of freedom in comparison with the usual prostheses. All fingers, in particular, can be compressed and be unclenched independently of each other and brush - is turned around the axis.
However, the great possibilities of prototype negative are reflected in its energy consumption. As a result grows the load on the storage batteries, which, in turn, leads either to the need for the installation of more capacious and heavier batteries or to the need for the search for the alternative power sources. As this source a command Of Goldfarb used a miniature single-component "rocket" engine. In the engine the combustion of peroxide of hydrogen in the presence of catalyst occurs, and the formed vapor is opened or is shut the special valves, connected with the aid of the spring-opposed articulations with the elements of the construction of prosthesis. Small reservoir with peroxide of hydrogen in this case ensures to 18 it is hour the work of prototype.
By the way, because of the presence of combustion chamber for developers it was necessary to provide special safety systems, which prevent the contact of man with the heated details and at the same time ensuring the heat removal. Harvard thus far nothing communicates about the possible periods of the commercialization of the development of the colleagues of university.