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I would like to tell you a story.
A couple of years ago, I was at the village with my grandmother,
and we were watching television.
And I tell her, "Grandma, can you change the channel?"
And my grandmother tried to grab the TV remote control
and the remote control was slipping through her hands.
And I say, can I solve this problem?
Of course, when you are 15 years old
and you set out to make a device that doesn't exist,
how do you do it?
The answer is, with difficulty. So...
(Applause)
But let me tell you exactly how
the present device deals with it
which I developed after a very long time.
So, an algorithm as you all know is
the process of solving a problem in a specific period of time.
Initially, as you all understand, there has to be a device
that the user will be wearing.
Then I have to find a way to collect the data
that is, when the user is trying to grab an object, a glass for example.
I have to develop a processing system
which will process all the data,
move some appropriate motors
in order to practically enhance the strength.
And the device in question accomplishes that.
The exoskeleton. An exoskeleton is the exoskeletal structure
in which all the external forces are exherted.
The good thing about this exoskelon
is that it has the same degree of freedom as the human hand, 15.
And that's why, as you understand, if you wear it,
you will find no movement that it cannot perform.
I constructed it using thick copper wire
and I joined it with solder
because my mother wouldn't buy me an electric welding machine.
(Laughter) (Applause)
Never mind.
So, how do you detect the user's intention
to grasp an object.
The answer is, pressure sensors.
Pressure sensors are nothing but
a variable resistance
which varies the resistance in the circuit
with the force that is pressed upon it.
You can see here how it varies with relation to strength.
Then, I developed a processing system
which analyses all the data.
That is, it converts an analogue signal to a digital one.
The hard part is that, because I want to enhance
ten different movements, I have ten different streamings of data.
How can we do parallel processing with processors
that will not exceed the cost of one, two euros.
The answer is, we put many processors;
ten to be exact, one for each movement.
Finally, I used precision motor mechanisms, or else thermal mechanisms
which are nothing but a motor that knows its position.
And just by changing when the signal is ON and when it is OFF
- the digital signal - I change the position of the axis.
So, allow me, as talk is cheap,
allow me to show you in practice.
So, the best way to show you
would be to invite each one of you here to try it out
but this is practically impossible.
What I want you to see is that when you make movements,
how quickly it perceives it and how quickly I move all the fingers.
You can see me here doing all the movements with my hand.
Let's go and see what can become of this device.
Because it looks bulky, I have to tell you that it weighs 420 grams
and it is made of metal, so...
So, initially it will have to be designed in a 3D imaging program,
in other words in CAD software.
You can see here an example of an everyday object,
how the program studies which forces
are exerted on it.
In this way, we can make the movement of the exoskeletal set-up
more efficient.
Then, as you understand, since it involves an exoskeleton,
there will have to be a set-up that fits all users.
Practically, this is impossible.
But how will it be when it comes out on the market.
The answer is 3D Printing.
It is a rapid prototyping method
which can print 3D objects.
This particular printer costs two thousand euros
and can print objects from ABS plastic.
What is ABS plastic, I think you all know,
it is even used in aeronautics, on airplanes,
so you can understand how hard it is.
Finally, this is a board that I designed last Saturday,
during a homework break.
(Laughter)
So, it brings together all the boards onto one.
All these enhancements that I showed you
will lower the cost of the device to 390 euros,
and its weight by 180 grams.
The lasting impression I would like you to be left with
after my presence here
is that, I believe, that in each one of you, individually,
there is an inventor inside of you.
And what I would like you to do is just let him
come out and change all the things around him.
So, my advise is, let the inventor come out.
Thank you very much.
(Applause)