The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have collaborated on a project called Touch Hand, which specialises in mechanised prosthetics.
The low-cost prosthetics will be available to the public and affordable for low-income houses.
The project is being sponsored by industrial product and service solutions company, RS South Africa.
Managing director, Brian Andrew, said the tools and components provided by RS South Africa will enable the Touch Hand team to train more young South African engineers and technologists and refine the design of the advanced low-cost prosthetics.
The company will also offer its master-class workshops, which will teach young engineers important skills including presentation and communication, goal setting, how to deal with conflict, and time management.
“We are delighted to support the Touch Hand project team,” said Mr Andrew. “We believe that engineering and technology can make a positive impact on the world. We are committed to supporting young engineers and technologists in South Africa to achieve their full potential.”
UKZN’s Touch Hand prototype was first developed in 2013 as part of the master’s research of Drew van der Riet together with his supervisor Professor Riaan Stopforth, who leads the SMART Lab at the university and is the Touch Hand team leader.
The initial robotic prosthetic hand design incorporated a unique sensory feedback system that provided an amputee with a restored sense of touch, using upper-limb electromyography prosthetics, said Professor Stopforth.
“The design has been refined and in 2020 it was entered in the global, multi-disciplinary Cybathlon – based in Zurich. The Cybathlon acts as a platform that challenges teams from around the world to develop assistive technologies suitable for everyday use with and for people with disabilities. It is a multi-sport event that saw around 60 teams from 20 countries compete to complete everyday tasks using powered prosthetic limbs and assistive technology,” said Professor Stopforth.
He said the Touch Hand team will represent South Africa in the Cybathlon event in 2024.
Research and development have continued unabated on the Touch Hand, headed by Stopforth and Dr Daniel Kirkman at UKZN, with project manager Clive Hands from NMU’s Advanced Engineering Design Group.
The team is working on Touch Hand 5.0, optimising the design of Touch Hand 4.0 that competed in 2020 based on the lessons learnt through the design’s performance and functionality in the Cybathlon.
“It was evaluated against leading prosthetics and prototypes from around the world,” said Professor Stopforth.
Using an additive manufacturing process – industrial 3D printing, the team is developing the customisability of the prosthetic hand and creating a modular, mechanical design. The design will be simple, lightweight, cost-effective, and manageable in size to enable its amputee pilot to comfortably carry out simple tasks, said Professor Stopforth.
They are also focusing on ensuring that the hand’s socket, worn by the amputee, is comfortable, breathable, and not irritable to the skin.
“The collaboration with RS has only been achieved because of the willingness to collaborate with other universities. We are grateful for this collaboration, and for the support and sponsorship of the lab,” said Professor Stopforth.
“With these items, we are able to pursue higher goals and research avenues than what we have pursued previously and at the same time create interest and excitement among the students.”