Researchers from the University of Antwerp developed a robotic arm, that is a sign language
interpreter. Robot hand named Project Aslan which stands for “Antwerp’s Sign Language Actuating Node”. The arm is connected to the network, that users can send a text messages and it will stat signing. At the moment it uses an alphabet system called finger-spelling, there each individual letter is communicated through a separate gesture.
The Aslan hand is made up of 25 plastic 3D-printed parts and a 16 servo motors, 3 motor controllers and an Arduino Due microcomputer. The manufacturing is being handled through a global 3D printing network called 3D Hubs, which is designed to ensure the robot can be built anywhere.
There are a lot of circumstances where a deaf person needs a sign language interpreter, but real person who can translate sign language is not available. This is where a low-cost option like Aslan can offer a solution. The current version can only translate text into finger-spelling signs, but the team is working to develop a setup with two arms, and there are plans to add an expressive face to the system. Check out Project Aslan in action in the video below.
https://www.technology.org/2017/09/13/robot-arm-as-a-sign-language-interpreter/
