An external biceps brachii muscle that gives its user "Herculean strength" was developed by a team of mechanical engineering students at the University of Pennsylvania.
The device in question, with the Greek mythology-inspired name "Titan Arm", is the brainchild of four students, who during their final year built an exoskeleton for the upper body, which can be used for both physiotherapy and heavy manual labor.
As noted in a CNN article, this particular invention resulted in its creators winning $10,000 at the Cornell Cup for Innovation, and being named a finalist for the 2013 Dyson award.
The “Titan Hand” is placed directly on the user’s hand and helps them lift objects that they would normally not be able to lift. Its creators estimate that it will be extremely useful in the rehabilitation of people with physical problems, both due to injuries and existing musculoskeletal disorders. However, they also point out that it could also be extremely useful for people who engage in tasks that require muscle strength, due to the need to lift heavy objects.
“With the Titan Arm, we wanted to create something that could both enhance a user’s physical strength and help someone do physical therapy in their own home,” says Elizabeth Beatty, one of the Titan Arm’s inventors. “We wanted to create a low-cost item that would be easy for the user to put on themselves.”.
According to Beatty, the device – which references countless science fiction stories with bionic exoskeletons, such as the recent film “Elysium” – has as one of its basic principles the comfort of use from the user’s point of view: “We wanted something that would be comfortable for the user, something that mimics the natural movement and reach of the body, so we did a lot of testing to get it to where it is now.”.
The Titan Arm is applied to the right hand and has a motor in the elbow. This bionic limb can lift about 20 kilograms of weight, thus enhancing the user's physical strength. The "arm" is made mainly of aluminum and steel, and is powered by a DC battery. It can also "lock" in any position, to hold a heavy object steady without tiring the user.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
