Active gesture-changeable underactuated finger for humanoid robot hand based on multiple tendons

Abstract. The concept called gesture-changeable under-actuated (GCUA) function is utilized to improve the dexterities of traditional under-actuated hands and reduce the control difficulties of dexterous hands. Based on GCUA function, a novel mechanical finger by multiple tendons: GCUA-T finger, is designed. The finger uses tendon mechanisms to achieve GCUA function which includes traditional underactuated (UA) grasping motion and special pre-bending (PB, or pre-shaping) motion before UA grasping. Operation principles and force analyses of the fingers are given, and the effect of GCUA function on the movements of a hand is discussed. The finger can satisfy the requirements of grasping and operating with low dependence on control system and low cost on manufacturing expenses, which develops a new way between dexterous hand and traditional under-actuated hand.

This paper was presented at the IFToMM/ASME International Workshop on Underactuated Grasping (UG2010), 19 August 2010, Montréal, Canada.