The days of the third hand’s dominance of workshops the world over is soon coming to an end. For those moments when only a third hand is not enough, a fourth is there to save the day.
Dubbed MetaLimbs as well as established by a team from the [Inami Hiyama Laboratory] at the university of Tokyo as well as the [Graduate institution of Media Design] at Keio University, the gadget is designed to be used while sitting — strapped to your back like a knapsack — however utilize while standing stationary is possible, if perhaps a bit un-intuitive. fundamental movement is managed by the setting of the leg — specifically, sensors connected to the foot as well as knee — as well as flexing one’s toes actuates the robotic hand’s fingers. There’s even some haptic comments built-in to help anyone who isn’t utilized to utilizing their legs as arms.
The team touts the choice of customizeable hands, though a soldering iron attachment may not be as precise as needed at this stage. Still, it would be nice to be able to chug your coffee without interrupting your work.
It’s rather enviable that they are taking a productive path with this tech instead of the obvious super villain solution as well as attaching lasers to MetaLimbs’ arms.
[via /r/Robotics]