Robotic Hand

Well after all the hard work, it finally works :)
You can see in the video, that the glove needs to be initialized first. This way the glove can be fitted to different hand sizes, and shape. After a quick initialization, the robotic hand is fully controlled by the glove.
You can see that the engines are a bit jumpy, that is because the sensors in the glove are not a 100% precise. Now I just need to figure out how to improve their percision.

YouTube link (much better video quality)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOmXgcbyMMs

The Glove

The video is a bit difficult to understand, it's actually a recording of my own computer.
The quality of it, is not so great. So the best way to watch it, is on YouTube on full-screen.

On the left side, what you can see, is the "Arduino 2560" controller board, connected with a CAT6 network cable to a sniper's glove, that is filled with home-made Flex Sensors.
On the right side, you can see the reading of the sensors by the computer. Each sensor is numbered from #1 to #15, and next to it, there is a number, telling how bent is the sensor.
If you look closely, you would see that when I make a fist, the numbers on all the sensors are rising.
Now I just need to translate it to the engines, and it is ON...

YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzKPjCRl5z8&feature=player_embedded

Flex Sensor

After quite a long time, I managed to construct my very own "Flex Sensor".
You can see it in this video, I made a prototype, using some speaker wire,
electrical tape and "Velostat", which is a material used for electrostatic protective bags. And you can see the resistance changing when I bend and straight the sensor.
After I cleared this project, I ordered an "Arduino Mega 2560" microcontroller board, which I'll be connecting the sensors to. You can check it out on http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardMega2560
So now I just need to build 15 of these sensors, sew them to a glove, and then connect them to the board.
Wish me luck

YouTube link
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y7TawVjNCQ

Hand Test

Well the remaining engines have arrived, and I also got the glove, so I wanted to try out the new hand.
Works pretty good as you can see. Now I need to start teaching it to grab stuff without breaking it, and to get Flex Sensors, for the glove, so I'll be able to mimic the glove's movement with the robotic hand.
The thing is that the Flex Sensors are more expansive and tricky to find than I thought.
So what I think I'm going to do, is to build the Flex Sensors myself by this video I found in YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkPekPiA-sc&feature=related
That way, I can custom build them to fit the glove and save some money.
If anyone has any other idea, about how to connect the glove to the robotic hand, just leave a comment I'll be glad to get some ideas.
And if you want to see what a Flex Sensor is exactly, then you can check it out here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ku-qjfsArA

YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN38n5qrOqY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

3D Module

Well I made this 3D module using SketchUp, and it's pretty exact.
I already built the base from wood, and connected most of the engines to it. Now I'm just waiting for the rest on the AX-12 engines to arrive.
I also ordered a paintball glove, because it looks pretty easy to connect sensors to it.
Now I only need to see where I can find the sensors I need.
http://www.amazon.com/Grip-Armor-Paintball-Gloves-Regular/dp/B003BM7FFW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1288596581&sr=8-1

YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZArCbERF0c&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Goofing Around

I tried to do a bit more advanced choreography, inspired by RUN-DMC & Jason Nevins, "It's like that"
 video. Anyway now I'm waiting for some more AX-12 engines I ordered, which I need to complete the hand module, and I found this clip on YouTube explaining a bit about electroactive polymers
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=ckwm_QiPo5A&feature=related

YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hc3D3QHY4Y&feature=related

2 Fingers Movement

Well before continuing to a full hand model, I wanted to see if I can make some basic choreography between 2 fingers, and make them interact a bit.
Now you can really see here, just how big these fingers are going to come out. But it won't matter because it's the feedback from the engines that I'm counting on, and not how real the hand module will be.

YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpdWfI5mX2Q