Cho, Director of Biorobotics Laboratory at SNU, designed the Exo-Glove Poly, a soft wearable robot that addresses hand paralysis by allowing people to grasp or pinch different objects. Exo is a Greek work and refers to outside while Poly indicates the glove being made of polymer.
The goal of SNU Biorobotics Lab is to foster and educate innovative and empathetic reseachers to become agents of change for the future. The team further hopes that more people with disability will be able to live a better independent life. Cho plans to make Exo-Glove Poly available to masses by the end of 2017.
The flexible rubber glove robot is said to be superior to the bulky skeletons due to its lightweight, compactness and increased usability. Foreign media reports that this glove is build in a way that it can be worn everyday and is thus, waterproof. The glove comprises of two fingers and a thumb that can fit over a wearers hand with a soft tendon routing system of wires. The motor is controlled by a simple switch which pulls the wires for the movement of hand.
The design of the glove can be adjusted according to the hand size and will also be able to protect users from any kind of injury.
Kyujin noted that each year about 500, 000 people end up in a wheelchair. Around half of those also suffer injuries to their hand and that number doesnt include the people who sustain injuries just to their hands. To deal with complications like these, Cho and his team developed the robotic glove.