Application of Manual
Dexterity Studies to
Prosthetics and Service
Robotics
Funded by:
University of Malta
Start Date: 2017
End
Date: 2018
Budget: € 4,200
Principal Investigator
at the University of
Malta:
Prof.
Ing. Michael A. Saliba
Co-Investigator/s at the
University of Malta:
Ms Yesenia Aquilina
Ms Maria Cutajar
Mr James McElhatton
Mr Gabriel Agius Pascalidis
Mr Joshua Barbara
Ms Yasmine El Sadi
Mr Matthew Brincat
Ms Amy Cutajar
Mr Donald Dalli
Research Objective:
Over the years, the
University has developed
extensive expertise and new
knowledge in the measurement
and analysis of manual
dexterity, as well as in the
application of the results
to the development of
artificial dexterous and
multi-sensory hands. In this
research, this work is
extended to a number of
practical applications.
Results:
With respect to general
service robot
applications, an
innovative gripper has
been developed for the
sorting and transfer of
commingled domestic
recyclable waste; and a
new robotic supermarket
check-out system has been
developed and demonstrated
in the lab. Other work has
involved further
development of a
tele-operation system
involving the RSL
UM-MAR-II hand. With
respect to prosthetic hand
research, an exploratory,
physical model of a
sub-minimal prosthetic
hand has been developed
and evaluated, while other
work has involved the
experimental study of
human hand synergies
during grasping.
Publications:
D. Bonello, M. A. Saliba
and K. P. Camilleri, “An
exploratory study on the
automated sorting of
commingled recyclable
domestic waste”, 27th
International Conference
on Flexible Automation and
Intelligent Manufacturing
(FAIM 2017), Modena,
Italy, June 2017; Procedia
Manufacturing Vol. 11
(2017),
686-694.
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Y. Aquilina and M. A.
Saliba, “An automated
supermarket checkout
system utilizing a SCARA
robot: preliminary
prototype development”,
29th International
Conference on Flexible
Automation and Intelligent
Manufacturing (FAIM 2019),
Limerick, Ireland, June
2019; Procedia
Manufacturing Vol. 38
(2019),
1558-1565.
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