Barrett HandBarrett Technology, Cambridge, MA

Innovation• The BH8-260 grasper is an intelligent, highly flexible eight-axis gripper that re-configures itself in real time to conform securely to a wide variety of part shapes, without tool change interruptions.

Commercialization/Accomplishments• The Barrett Hand BH8-series grasper was showcased on the recent cover of Machine Design Magazine (February 2001) www.machinedesign.com for its

unmatched versatility, programmability, and ease of integration with commercial robotic arms.• The Barrett hand is also sold as part of the Barrett Hand SystemTM.. The system is a complete turn key (picture below), which includes: 1kg 3-fingered

robotic hand, Robot-Arm Adapter, Power Supply Unit, All necessary cables, Transparent lab-bench mount, All Software (3.5-inch DOS-formatted diskette),User manual, Maintenance kit, and 90-day warranty.

• The firm has been able to sell a multitude of the Barrett Hands and Barrett Arms as a results of the products they have developed for NASA. • The BarrettHand was featured in a recent Robotics Online article weighing the

advantages and disadvantages of electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic grippers. Robotics Online is the official web site of Robotic Industries

Association (RIA). RIA is the only trade group in North America organized exclusively to promote the robotics industry.

Government/Science Applications

• The integrated arm/wrist/ hand system has many other commercial and governmental applications. These include use in hazardous environment such as toxic waste cleanup, nuclear power plant maintenance, high-voltage, computer assisted surgery, or explosives disposal.

BH8-260 BH8-262

Johnson Space Center Date of Update 2/6/02 Success Story # 9-056Points of Contact: - NASA: Jane I. Fox –281-483-4815 - Company: robot@barrett.com 1992 SBIR Phase II NAS 9-18642