MIT
MIT supernumerary robotic fingers (2014)
Research on augmenting a human hand with two synchronised robotic fingers
Price not verified
Keio University Embodied Media
MetaLimbs
Research prototypeResearch on controlling additional robotic limbs through leg and foot movement.
Price not verified
Manufacturer photograph of physical MetaLimbs hardware.
- Historical research prototype; no production or present retail availability inferred.
- The leg/foot control scheme changes how the operator allocates limb movement.
MetaLimbs: Understanding whole-body control of extra robotic arms
An original synthesis of the linked evidence. SmartWearGuide has not hands-on tested this device.
MetaLimbs is a research project that adds a pair of robotic arms behind the wearer and maps lower-body movement into additional manipulation. The original 2017 project material makes the concept clear: extra arms need a control strategy, and that strategy can recruit parts of the body that are not already performing the hand task.
Its interest is not that a person suddenly gains effortless extra hands. The demonstration illustrates a coordination problem as much as a hardware achievement. Moving feet or knees to influence an additional arm may make sense in a constrained setup, while competing with balance, walking or another activity in a different context. A striking video does not establish a comfortable working day.
We retain MetaLimbs as the tenth research selection because it provides historical context for contemporary augmentation claims. It helps a reader ask better questions about newer exoskeletons and extra-limb projects: what supplies the command, what task is improved, and what existing freedom is traded away? It is an older research prototype, not a current retail recommendation. Its place is educational and comparative, with no assumption that the original system has become a supported product or a proven workplace tool.
Why #10 in this selectionTenth as an instructive historical research demonstration of extra-limb control. Newer projects rank above it because this source documents a 2017 prototype rather than a recently verified consumer or clinical system.
The compromiseControl demands, weight and constrained use are material concerns. The original project does not establish modern availability, routine workplace safety or independent long-term performance.
Evidence behind this review
Research or specialist medical evidence brief. This is not a consumer hands-on review or a treatment recommendation.
KMD Embodied Media researchRelease date not verified · Research or specialist clinical access
Catalogue status: Research prototype. A research publication or demonstration is not a retail release.Key details
- Designed for
- Research on controlling additional robotic limbs through leg and foot movement ↗
PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Prices & availability
Price settingsMarket & sorting
No verified price in this audit.
Author/laboratory research prototype; no consumer sale or public hardware purchase price verified.
Author/laboratory research prototype; no consumer sale or public hardware purchase price verified.
Prices are snapshots, not a live stock feed. Taxes, shipping, prescription lenses and accessories can change the total.
Specifications
- Designed for
- Research on controlling additional robotic limbs through leg and foot movement ↗
- Form factor
- Back-mounted pair of robotic arms and hands ↗
- Research Year
- 2017 ↗
- Additional Limbs
- Two robot arms ↗
- Global Tracking
- Optical markers on knees and toes ↗
- Local Tracking
- Sock-type devices measure toe movement ↗
- Mapping
- Left/right feet mapped to respective robotic arms ↗
- Hand Control
- Foot/leg motion mapped into robot arms, hands and fingers ↗
- Project Stage
- Physical research prototype demonstrated at SIGGRAPH2017 ↗
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