A fist full of sensors, Keynote paper

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Description/Abstract

Loss of a natural hand means that the neural connections between the brain and the palm, fingers and thumb are also lost, including any feedback paths e.g. sensing temperature. Equipping an artificial hand with sensors allows for the inclusion of automatic control loops, freeing the user from the cognitive burden of object holding which is similar to the natural low level spinal loops that automatically compensate for object movement. Force, object slip and finger positions are variables that need to be measured in a hand designed for the physically impaired person. A high specification is required for any sensor design.