This robotic hand was developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo, and it's unlike anything we've seen before.
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What sets it apart is its use of lab-grown tendons.
The tendons are grown in the lab using stem cells, which can replicate repeatedly until an entire organ is formed.
These tendons were integrated into the hand's plastic structure, which was computer-designed and 3D-printed.
It is operated via electrical signals, similar to how nerve cells function in the human hand.
It can already perform basic actions such as grasping objects and moving them from place to place — and can even make a peace sign with two fingers by controlling each finger independently.
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One of the hand's most remarkable properties is that even though it "fatigues" and performs less effectively after 10 minutes, it returns to full function after an hour of rest!
Experiments with structures like this have been underway for 10 years, but this hand already reaches 18 centimeters in length — significantly longer than anything we've seen to date.
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If we always assumed that robotics would lead to the implantation of artificial limbs into our bodies, it now appears the direction is also reversed — embedding flesh-and-blood organs into robotic bodies.
This technology could prove useful for medical research and experimentation, and has the potential to be particularly far-reaching when it comes to human-machine integration.
It'll be interesting to watch.