The vacuum of space is a vast and volatile place, requiring the brave men and women to be properly trained and equipped in order to handle such an environment. That is why through the continued partnership of GM and NASA tools such as the Human Grasp Assist Device or also know as K-glove or robo-glove have been developed to assist astronauts in space. Robo-glove is only one example of the many tools and equipment that have been devised in order to aid our brave travelers in their quest to study our solar system and beyond! But astronauts aren’t the only ones benefitting from NASA’s innovations, now GM’s factories have access to the space tech to assist their workforce with their manual tasks.
The Robo-glove is a robotic gripping device that assists the wearer with their manual tasks. The glove is fitted with actuators and sensors that are activated when it detects an object has been picked up, decreasing the amount of force necessary for the wearer to use when working. The benefits of such a device for astronauts and automakers alike is the reduction of physical stress on the muscles and tendons in the hands allowing for longer work duration. One problem has surfaced from using this power glove in space, astronauts are experiencing fingernail delamination, which is fingernail separation from the nail bed because of constant agitation that the nails undergo while astronauts work in space. Space has proven to be a challenge for our astronauts, but rest assured NASA and GM are working on fixing this problem.
NASA’s space gloves are still being evaluated in factory settings for further testing and it’s potential for different industries work force. The Goal is to assimilate soft robotic exoskeleton systems with a multitude of different markets ranging from industrial to health care. Exoskeletons are currently one of the best methods of helping those with limited mobility a second chance at regaining mobility and most importantly, their independence. Another benefit of implementing Soft exoskeleton systems are its potential to minimize injuries in the chance a mishap occurs because of rather than a mix of hard plastics and metal, which is commonly found in exoskeletons today, soft exoskeletons will be covered in soft padding and feedback mechanisms to reduce chances of injury.
SolveLight Robotics is looking forward to one day providing to a myriad of different people to one day utilize their very own Robo-glove. The more people that get their hands on this technology the faster new industries, uses, and innovations will come. We want to thank our viewers for reading this blog and would like to know what you think, comment your thoughts opinions or experiences on our blog or Facebook for us to read!
