Iron Man isn't the only 3D-printed prosthetic these days. Unlike the mechanical hand given to Robert Downey Jr., Japanese manufacturer Exiii's recent add-on limb costs just $300 and leverages the computing power of your mobile device to act just like the real thing.
The exterior of the bionic limb, Handiii, is entirely 3D printed. Not only does this keep the initial cost of each unit low (it’s already dropped by $50 since it was last shown at Maker Faire in Tokyo), but the technique also makes it faster and easier to make replacement parts. But despite its base price, the Handiii is packed with electronics. An EMG sensor detects electrical impulses coming from the user’s active limb and converts the impulses into physical movement through a series of servos. It also connects wirelessly to a mobile phone or tablet and uses the CPU to interpret those signals and provide movement.
Unfortunately, there's already a waiting list for these handy devices, partly due to a backlog of existing orders. Its creators are also committed to getting them into the hands of academic and industrial researchers – possibly as an open-source platform – before they begin shipping to the general public.
