A robotic hand sensitive to forces in an underwater environment

The robotic hand design addresses the challenge of controlling clamping force at great depths by incorporating sensors and flexible drive links within an oil-filled glove, enabling reliable grasping of fragile objects in marine environments.

JP7877209B2Inactive Publication Date: 2026-06-22CENT NAT DE LA RECH SCI (C N R S) +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022537451
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2019-12-17
Filing Date
2020-12-15
Publication Date
2026-06-22
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing robotic hands are limited to shallow underwater environments and lack reliable control of clamping force, especially at great depths, making them unsuitable for handling fragile objects in marine settings.

Method used

A robotic hand design featuring a base, joint structures, drive mechanisms, actuators, and flexible drive links, equipped with sensors to measure pivot and joint positions, enclosed in an oil-filled glove for pressure compensation, resembling a human hand in size and aesthetics.

Benefits of technology

Enables reliable control of clamping force at considerable depths, allowing the robotic hand to grasp fragile objects efficiently while reducing size and weight, and improving operational simplicity.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for forming a robotic hand, comprising: a base forming a palm; at least two articulated structures each forming a robotic finger, each articulated structure being connected to the base by at least one joint; at least one drive mechanism for each joint; at least one actuator arranged to actuate the at least one drive mechanism by means of at least one flexible drive link connecting and driving the at least one drive mechanism; means for measuring the pivotal movement of one or more of the at least one actuator and the joints; and a glove (102) covering the base and the at least two articulated structures, the glove being closed to form an oil-filled volume inside the glove between the wall of the glove and the base and the at least two articulated structures. The field of the invention is in particular that of robotic hands used in underwater environments at considerable depths.
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Maintenance device

    JP2015048055A

  • Deformation sensor package and method

    JP2017500543A

  • Robot hand

    WO2010064684A1