Adding more sensitivity to bionic hands

The robotic hand under development by the University of Southern California in Los Angeles has a new way of estimating the minimum force required in order to hold objects.The fingertips of the hand are filled with gel, which allows transmitting vibrations if an object in contact is slipping. The finger’s bone is also covered with electrodes. Through these mechanisms, instant feedback is received about what the hand is touching. The wearer will even be able to feel what the bionic hand is touching, with the help of a pressure device worn on his/her healthy skin. For the original story, please visit the link below.

http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/mg19926755.900?promcode=nletter&DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=mg19926755.900