Measuring Finger Forces by Imaging the Fingernail

by
Yu Sun

Advised by
John Hollerbach

Currently, grasping studies require special designed test objects and keypads instrumented with force sensors. Our technique allows the studies of grasp forces for ordinary objects of arbitrary shape. Based upon the fact that the coloration of the fingernail transduces fingertip force, our technique observes coloration changes in fingernails with a passive camera system and relates the changes with fingerpad forces.