Robotics to the rescue of diffabled

Robotics has now come to  the rescue of people with disabili-ties.

CHENNAI: Robotics has now come to the rescue of people with disabili-ties. A prosthetic arm ‘Robo-limb’ that operates like a normal arm lifting heavy material, write, eat and do a range of activities, was showcased in ‘Shaastra’, the IIT-Madras technofest.

A-SET Robotics, a Delhi-based start up company, has developed this new generation prosthetic arm that will hit the market in the second quarter of this year. It is made up of biodegradable ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or thermoplastic polymer. Unlike the conventional artificial hands, the ‘robo-limb’ can make movements and lift an approximate  25 kg and can do numerous activities.

Swatantra Singh, a researcher with A-SET Robotics, told Express it costs just Rs 15,000. “Abroad, a similar prosthetic limb would cost at least Rs 35 lakh,” he said. “They are using various other forms of plastics which are quite expensive but not the ABS plastic. The dummy hands are also very costly abroad,” he said.

Swatantra said the limb consists of sensors, micro-controller and motor. “The sensor will determine the stretching of the muscles. We will first analyse the kind of problem each person has and accordingly surface electrode and sensors will be fitted.  All the muscle cells are connected to the nervous system.

The brain sends signal that generates electric potential detected by the sensor. The signal that is acquired from the sensor is sent to micro-controller which is responsible for all controlling activities. The micro-controller takes inputs from the muscle sensors and gives the output to actuate the motor,” he said.
Another researcher with the start-up, Rahul Singh said when it comes to insertion of the limb, there is a silicon cover with strap which can be tied with the body.

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