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The
flexibility of the revolutionary new device means it can snake
into awkward places and follow complex paths.
The
operator enjoys full control of the whole devise, unlike an
endoscope, which only allows the tip to be controlled.
The
arm is made of segments which can be interchanged, depending
on the job it is required to do.
Each
arm is made from independently-controlled segments with a
computer calculating how to make the arm follow the required
path.
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| The
arm can carry loads from 10g to 100kg |
Unlike
the robots used in the car industry, this robotic arm has
been designed to work inside machinery or even inside a human
body.
Having
won two DTI SMART awards and backing from a VCT the arm has
taken more than £250,000 to develop in less than 12 months.
"There's
already been a tremendous amount of interest in it, especially
from neuro surgeons and those dealing with spinal cords,"
Dr Rob Buckingham who developed the arm, told BBC Bristol.
The
robot has not been created exclusively for medical applications,
he said.
"It
can be made with a 6mm diameter for looking at growths inside
the body, or 120mm diameter, like an elephant's trunk, capable
of carrying 50 kilos, for work with bomb disposal experts,"
said Dr Buckingham.
It
is capable of carrying loads from 10g to 100kg and incorporates
a hollow bore for tools to be inserted.
Arm
length and bend capabilities can be adapted depending on the
task, from food grades, to underwater work and the nuclear
industry.
For
the future, Dr Buckingham is investigating using the arm for
water-jet cutting, laser welding and ultrasonics.
The
arm is basically a delivery tool, for reaching the unreachable.
Size
and weight are the only limitations on the arm length.
Close
ties to Rolls Royce, BAe Systems and Airbus and the huge scope
for aerospace applications mean the team would like the arm
to be built and developed in Bristol.
"We're
a Bristol company, we are all graduates from the University
of Bristol and have built up some strong ties in the city,
so we want to stay here," Dr Buckingham said.
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