This book looks at the common problems both human and robotic hands encounter when controlling the large number of joints, actuators and sensors required to efficiently perform motor tasks such as object exploration, manipulation and grasping. The authors adopt an integrated approach to explore the control of the hand based on sensorimotor synergies that can be applied in both neuroscience and robotics. Hand synergies are based on goal-directed, combined muscle and kinematic activation leading to a reduction of the dimensionality of the motor and sensory space, presenting a highly effective solution for the fast and simplified design of artificial systems. Presented in two parts, the first part, Neuroscience, provides the theoretical and experimental foundations to describe the synergistic organization of the human hand. The second part, Robotics, Models and Sensing Tools, exploits the framework of hand synergies to better control and design robotic hands and haptic/sensing systems/tools, using a reduced number of control inputs/sensors, with the goal of pushing their effectiveness close to the natural one. Human and Robot Hands provides a valuable reference for students, researchers and designers who are interested in the study and design of the artificial hand.

This book looks at the common problems both human and robotic hands encounter when controlling the large number of joints, actuators and sensors required to efficiently perform motor tasks such as object exploration, manipulation and grasping. The authors adopt an integrated approach to explore the control of the hand based on sensorimotor synergies that can be applied in both neuroscience and robotics. Hand synergies are based on goal-directed, combined muscle and kinematic activation leading to a reduction of the dimensionality of the motor and sensory space, presenting a highly effective solution for the fast and simplified design of artificial systems. Presented in two parts, the first part, Neuroscience, provides the theoretical and experimental foundations to describe the synergistic organization of the human hand. The second part, Robotics, Models and Sensing Tools, exploits the framework of hand synergies to better control and design robotic hands and haptic/sensing systems/tools, using a reduced number of control inputs/sensors, with the goal of pushing their effectiveness close to the natural one. Human and Robot Hands provides a valuable reference for students, researchers and designers who are interested in the study and design of the artificial hand.

Il volume si pone l'obiettivo di scoprire, affrontare e analizzare un tema, l'ultima creativita, che la psicologia, le neuroscienze e la medicina non hanno mai pienamente esaminato. L'ultima creativita rappresenta la forza dello spirito innovativo, la tendenza a cogliere quanto l'esistenza propone, fino al termine: verso la conclusione della vita puo mantenersi attiva la fantasia, non nel significato di evasione allegorica da una realta che talora appare avversa, ma in quello di ricerca della verita narrativa e della sua realizzazione. Questo argomento puo suscitare e incontrare interesse o curiosita presso studenti, ricercatori, professionisti della salute e tutti coloro che riconoscono nello svolgersi della vecchiaia un'opportunita di apprendimento, crescita e riscoperta di qualita e risorse. Il testo si colloca in uno spazio nuovo della ricerca sulla creativita, approfondendone il ruolo e il significato piu profondo e forse anche quello piu vero.