403: Carbon Nanotube Human Machine Interface (Multidisciplinary Team)

Our project demonstrated the utility of patented carbon nanotube sensor technology in the development of hand prosthesis for individuals. Our sensors are printable, low-cost and thinner than sensors currently on the market. We integrated multiple motion sensors into an ergonomic glove to detect the wearer’s hand gestures through changes in electrical resistance. These sensors could be useful in the medical field for tracking rehabilitation progress in extremities or even controlling a robotic hand for those suffering irreversible hand damage. 

While this project seemed relatively straightforward, there were many challenges to achieving the desired output gestures on the robotic hand based on the wearer’s hand positions. To start, we had to design electrical filters to minimize noise and ensure accurate data was gathered from each motion sensor. The sensors had a very small strain range and detected tiny moves, so we had to design the glove needed to ensure that desired movements were detected. Furthermore, we had to program the robotic hand so that output movements correctly represented the user’s movements. The results of this project could lead to great improvements in helping those with hand damage.