Third Arm: Smart, Wearable, Robotic device

Stanford researchers at the Salisbury Lab have prototyped a wearable, articulated robotic device that can be attached to a person at the hip or other location to augment human task productivity. This mechanical "third arm" has many uses such as assisting abled users (e.g. holding additional tools to enhance work), helping disabled users (e.g. providing support and lifting objects), and as a haptic interface for interaction with robotics systems and AR/VR experiences. This invention incorporates the latest robotic technology with a newly designed 4-state brake mechanism in joints for advanced operations.
Beyond traditional research in wearable robotics, this work focuses on the creation of symbiotic combinations of powered, increasingly intelligent devices that work intimately with human's physical abilities to augment and extend their skills and task performance.

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Figure description - Next generation arms and user interface

Stage of Research