A futuristic, state-of-the-art robotic hand can transmit sense of touch remotely, allowing humans to feel objects they aren't really touching.

 

A human operator inserts his or her hand into a robotic glove, from which they direct a robotic counterpart using regular hand motions.

 

The Shadow Dextrous hand, from British robotics firm Shadow Robot Company, features 20 actuated degrees of freedom, absolute position and force sensors, and ultra sensitive touch sensors on the fingertips. Its developers say it provides unique capabilities for problems that require the closest approximation of the human hand.

 

With help from SynTouch and HaptX, an operator in California directed a robotic hand in London to pick up a ball in a demonstration, reported Dezeen. They also directed the robot to spoon food from a bowl and play Jenga, among other things.

 

This could prove especially valuable in normally dangerous situations like construction. A sense of touch could really make a difference for delicate tasks.

 

Could this hand potentially see value in the woodworking industry?