Abstract
An artificial arm for children is expected to assist children's growth. For example, the artificial arm helps brain growth and to improve body functions. We particularly consider that a development of a child's brain is improved by having human hand's functions in the artificial hand. In addition, the use of the arm for children has the potential to accept the artificial arm in the body image. The purpose of this study is to develop an externally-powered forearm prosthesis hand for children. The hand needs to have some features such as small size, low mass and safety. We therefore focus on shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators as a drive source of the hand. Single SMA has a function as a sensor and an actuator. Moreover, it has small size, low mass and flexibility. SMA actuators make possible the movement of wrist and fingers. We designed the hand for children and fabricated a prototype of it. In the results, we confirmed a normal range of finger and wrist movements. We also measured the maximum velocity of the forefinger motion and then it is 20 mm/s when the finger is actuated in flexion.
