Researchers have unveiled a wrist-worn joint device that transforms into extra fingers, allowing the wearer to carryout ‘tri-manual tasks’. Strong enough to lift a bucket, this gripper-like robot consists of 11 motors linked together using LEGO parts -- each one designed with 180 degrees of motion range

‘Additionally, the device can disengage from the user’s context by wrapping around the arm like a wristband.’

‘This allows the wearable design of the device less interfering, coming to the foreground only when assistance is required.’

Various configurations were also added including a wrist-worn gripper, a second palm that opens against a user’s own palm to help them pickup large items and extra fingers that function and move like their own.

Users can freely move their hands separately from the joints motion, as the robotic joints are controlled by the EMG signal gathered from muscles around the elbow.

The base servo can be attached to different areas of the arm: on the forearm, wrist, or parallel or perpendicular to the arm. And each position performs different set of functions.The device is strong enough to carry a 2.2 pound bucket

The team also implemented more sophisticated hand gestures to control certain functions.

Making a fist triggers the joints to disengage by turning into the idle wristband configuration and a wave-in and out switches between different active modes.

‘One key feature of our device is its versatility,’ the researchers said.

‘As we have showcased, it can serve for multiple purposes by sequentially rendering different shapes and motions.’