Kianoosh Nawai
8th Grade, West Virginia Virtual Academy
Charleston, WV
Design, Optimization and Evaluation of a Low-Cost, Compact Bionic Hand for Functional Restoration and Accessibility
Kianoosh wanted to create a low-cost prosthetic hand. He 3D printed prototypes, using pulling line and thermoplastic polyurethane as his ìtendons. He tested different versions of his hand for grip strength and how much force it took to flex each finger. His final version is a prosthetic which grips consistently.
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Project Background
Kianoosh knows that technology can be very helpful for people with disabilities. His younger sister uses a cochlear implant. “Watching how this type of bionic technology helps her hear and communicate made me realize how powerful assistive devices can be,” he says. But he also sees how much the technology needs to improve. Kianoosh learned that prosthetics to replace hands and feet are expensive, and not everyone can get one, and decided to see if he could design a more affordable solution.
Tactics and Results
Kianoosh started by studying how a human hand works, and focused on the tendons that flex and extend the hand and fingers. Then, he used a 3-D printer to print out a prosthetic hand, and used pulling line as his “tendons,” while thermoplastic polyurethane provided resistance and allowed him to control the motion. Kianoosh then tested each version of his hand, measuring grip strength and the force to flex each finger using a force gauge. He made adjustments to the pulling lines, where the pivots were placed, the geometry of the joints and more. Kianoosh’s final hand can grip things consistently, and he hopes to eventually power the hand with an actuator to produce the force it needs, and to study how to produce hand movements with an efficient use of power.Â
Beyond the Project
Kianoosh has been taking things apart and rebuilding them since he was five, and brings his engineering talents to his other hobby, motocross — off-road motorcycle racing. “I constantly analyze performance, solve problems, and make small adjustments to improve both my riding and my bike,” he says. He’s used his engineering skills to upgrade the motor on his bike and has used his 3-D printer to design and print his own parts. He also likes road biking and gravel biking. He hopes to use his fascination with anatomy and regenerative medicine to become a surgeon
