The future is now, humans. We’re truly beginning to see the introduction of gadgets we would have never thought possible even 10 years ago. The latest innovation sprung from a partnership between General Motors and NASA is the robotic Power Glove.
The RoboGlove helps mimic human hand functions, providing a literal helping hand in tough situations. Sensors, actuators and tendons that are comparable to the nerves, muscles and tendons in a human hand to increase operation dexterity for tools often used by humans. The ultimate goal is to reduce human operator fatigue in strenuous situations.
The technology was first tested with NASA during a nine-year long collaboration, and ended with the launch of Robonaut 2 (R2) into space in 2011. Now, Swedish medical technology company, Bioservo Technologies, is helping General Motors bring it to life on Earth for the public.
“Combining the best of three worlds – space technology from NASA, engineering from GM and medtech from Bioservo – in a new industrial glove could lead to industrial scale use of the technology,” said Tomas Ward, CEO of Bioservo Technologies.
GM’s intentions are to the first U.S. manufacturing body to use the robotic glove in its facilities. The glove will begin testing in various U.S. manufacturing facilities for GM, while Bioservo will introduce the glove to a variety of uses including medical rehabilitation and any place additional gripping strength is needed.
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Teenage males everywhere are just waiting for this technology to trickle down to them.