1) PBL Project Page

Engineering is the field of observing problems and then planning a solution by observing the things around you. Adapting into a situation. The invention of innovation through observing the nature and the environment and processing that to machines that help us solve problems. The presented problem in this project is to create a synthetic hand that moves using the same application as human hands use. This creation of a new technology enables people with disabilities to regain their movement and capabilities.

The Terminator 2.The Terminator uses all of the STEM components inside a project which have multiple parts to it; This is the summary of all parts STEM

· STEM ;

Science - The process of observing how humans move their bodies and hands.

Technology - materials and tools to accomplish a task

Engineering - observing and adapting to create a prototype

Math - calculations to make precise movements and programs

By observing how human muscles work, a new prosthetic hand will be created using STEM to engineer a working prototype.

Materials

materials for small demo

Tape

1 meter string

paper

scissors

5 straws

Materials for actual prototype

Arduino UNO with 5 motors&buttons

Clear Silicon sealant

5 straws

strings

Procedure

procedures for small demo

cut out a traced hand and label the joints in which you want ti to move.

cut out straws that a 2 cm shorter than the length between the joints

tape the total of 15 straws onto the hand and place the strings through the straws (make sure to tape the strings to the tip of the fingers).

add one more small straw to the wrist of the hand and gather all the strings here

Now that you are done. pull the strings to flex the hand inwards to make movement

Procedures for actual project

A big zip lock was tapped onto the table to make a smooth base for the project.

Using ordinary silicone bathroom sealant, an outline of the hand was traced using the silicon.

once dried, the outline was filled with more

silicone, and more was squeezed in as a pattern of zigzags, to create a fairly thin layer across the whole area of the hand.

Once the whole hand was covered,5 straws were pressed onto the hand.

The silicon was left to dry (12 hours)

After it dried, A thick flow of silicone was applied on the others side of thehand going straight down from the fingers to the wrist.

once it dried using a sharp knife, the moving joints of the hand were created by removing 50% hue of silicone to enable more flexible joints.

5 strings that could fit through the straws were used to be used as muscles(inserted through the straws), tie knots before the tip of the fingers.

now that we have the hand it for the programming language. The hand was placed vertically and the strings were hot glued onto the 5 motors

The Arduino was programmed to flex a hand when a button was pressed and each button was set to flex a finger, and every time a button was released the finger took its original shape back by the power of the silicone.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING

Science - The process of observing how humans move their bodies and hands.

Our bones, muscles pull by becoming shorter and wider (contract)

and become longer and thinner for the opposite action. There are two muscles in each moving part (bone), when one flexes, the other is relaxed which may lower or raise an arm.Muscles contain cylinder bundles of fibers, if you have ever eaten chicken, you can pull out strings of meat from the "muscle"(stings are the fibers), but its recommended that you don't play with food so i guess you will never figure it out.The cells inside the fibers have filaments that slide up and down which are controlled by the brain nerves which presents "The sliding filament theory". We are able to move our arms and legs because our muscles pull.

Technology - materials and tools to accomplish a task

Technology is not just a factor of electronics, but materials and modifications used to achieve a task, kind of like a lever to accomplish tasks. It differs a lot from engineering because technology is the use of concepts in a project to make an easier mobility and engineering is the planning process in which the engineer adapts to problems. The Terminator uses An Arduino (micro-controller) to program the hand and illustrate muscle movement. The "muscles" are just going to be strings that are attached to motors for a pull movement to contract the fingers.

Engineering - observing and adapting to create a prototype

In the robotic arm just like a human hand is going to have two muscles on the fingers, one side of the finger made of material that bends but is able to regain its original shape after there is no more force applied on the material. The material will be cut out to make it look like a human’s finger, and a piece of string will be attached to the tip, which will go through the material, this will act as the other muscle, pulling and releasing. Two prototypes are going to be built: one being hand made, and the other one will be a wooden mannequin hand to see which one works more efficiently.

Math - calculations to make precise movements

The Arduino micro-controller will need Math in its Programming because the angles of the movement of the fingers on the hand will have to be very precise to make it look and feel like a real hand.The movements have to be smooth so the programs will have to be tweaked a bit.

Reflection:

• What are the world applications for the robotic hand?

• It is a duplication of a real hand to help people with cut off hands to regain their abilities to use both of their hands. It also enables people to learn how their whole body works just by looking at how the robot used the body as an example.

• What category does this project fall into?

• This project is based on a use of bio-medical field in which combines science and engineering to observe the nature and its parts to duplicate them on technology.

• Relate the human hand to the robotic hand.

• Both hands are made from flexible materials and use the same strategy to flex the hand. They both have electrical programs, one of which come from the neurons from the brain, while the other obtains programmed information from the micro controller.

• Is this project fun?

• YES!