Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation

Kevin Jiaming Wu

Connor Richard Shannon

Matthew Steven Hill

Hatef Khadivinassab

A mechanical hand mimics a human hand having similar degrees of freedom and sensory abilities while appearing visually similar to human hand. The mechanical hand comprises a mechanical hand skeleton and resilient elastomer (e.g., silicone) skin that fully encloses the mechanical hand skeleton. The mechanical hand skeleton may advantageously be molded directly into the resilient elastomer (e.g., silicone) skin such that the hand appears, moves, and feels very similar to a real human hand. The mechanical hand may have applications in robotics, for example as an end-of-arm tool or end effector, or may have other applications. Robotic applications may include prosthetics applications.

Mechanical hand, useful in robotics

Tactile sensing using both coarse and fine tactile sensors. A coarse tactile sensor having a first sensitive area at least partially encompasses or overlies a plurality of fine tactile sensors, each having a respective sensitive area smaller than the first sensitive area. The coarse tactile sensor(s) and fine tactile sensors may be carried on a same circuit board or separate circuit boards. Processor(s) circuits are communicatively coupled to the coarse and/or fine tactile sensors. Information indicative of at least a presence or absence of force or pressure at a given location monitored by the respective tactile sensor, and/or a measure of the force or pressure or strain is collected. Such may be mounted to a backing, and optionally covered or encased in an artificial skin. Collecting sensor readings employs both coarse and fine tactile sensors, sampling corresponding fine tactile sensors in response to detection by a coarse tactile sensor.

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Vancouver, Canada

Kevin Jiaming Wu