Robotic arm wins James Dyson Award

Titan Arm was developed by four mechanical engineering students from the University of Pennsylvania in just eight months. They will share a prize of £30,000 and their university department will receive £10,000. Titan Arm is an upper-body exoskeleton that augments human muscle-power to reduce fatigue and braces the back to prevent poor lifting posture. It also provides data feedback for users and doctors. James Dyson said: ""Titan Arm is obviously an ingenious design, but the team's use of modern, rapid – and relatively inexpensive – manufacturing techniques makes the project even more compelling." The suit was developed for use in occupational lifting and healthcare. Healthcare applications include physical therapy and mobility assistance. Titan can be used to help stroke and injury victims rebuild muscle and relearn fine motor control. It provides quantitative feedback to doctors which can be used to motivate their patients by tracking improvement over time. Finally, Titan Arm can help people who suffer from permanent injuries or disabilities to live full lives. The second prize went to Handie, a prosthetic hand with sensors that can read brain signals, invented by a Japanese team. A 3D-printed plastic cast for broken limbs, from a team from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, took the third place. The James Dyson Foundation runs the annual award across 18 countries with the aim of encouraging problem-solving inventions.