Editorial: Human-like robotic hands for biomedical applications and beyond

Abstract

Robotic hands that integrate tactile or force/torque sensors have been utilized to assist robots and amputees in interacting closely with environments and objects. For example, robotic hands have been employed for stable grasping and dexterous manipulation of objects without dropping and damaging them as humans can. Robotic hands have been used for robots and amputees to express their gestures to humans for better communication; in addition, robotic hands fused with tactile or force/torque sensors can make the impossible possible for amputees, such as playing musical instruments like a piano, a guitar, and more just like humans play them while controlling delicate finger forces.

These are common everyday actions that we sometimes take for granted, but they are not. In many situations, these interactions are no longer possible.

With this Research Topic, we have attempted to collect current contributions on the design and integration of novel solutions for the advancement of robotic and prosthetic hands and sensing technology for measurable force, distance, force, etc., which is integrated into the hands.