Groundbreaking Artificial Hand Includes a Thumb

One of the limitations of prosthetic hands is that they lack functioning opposable thumbs. After all, it's a thumb that makes the human hand so functional. Researchers at Britain's University of Southampton have developed a motorized hand that includes a thumb, allowing the user to grip and manipulate objects.



The thumb has two motors, one for rotating and the other for flexing, giving it a broad range of motion. A prototype is in the works, and future versions may include fingers that can sense pressure to simulate touch.

Source: RealTechNews