1
Build
Students make a glove with sensors and connect it to an Arduino and five servos.
Project Robotic Hand
Build and control your robotic hand!
The Robotic Hand Project has students build a sensor glove that controls a robotic hand through Arduino and servo motors.
How does it work?
From finger bending to robotic movement.
Students build a simple sensor glove and connect it to a robotic hand. The Arduino reads finger movements, controls servomotors and makes visible how data can cause a physical movement.
2
Calibrate
Raw sensor values are converted into usable finger positions: from straight to bent.
3
Control
The Arduino translates measurements into servo angles so the robotic hand follows the human hand.
The setup
From glove to robotic hand.
A finger bends, the sensor value changes and the Arduino controls a servo. This lets students immediately see whether their code, wiring and mechanics work together.
- Flex sensors measure how much fingers bend.
- Arduino processes the measurements and controls servomotors.
- The browser shows live what the Arduino sends.
What will you learn?
What do students practise in this project?
Reading sensors
They read finger values and check whether those values match what they see.
Controlling actuators
They control servos and immediately see what a small change in the code does.
Processing data
They follow the values per finger and use them to adjust the setup.
Recognising patterns
They test whether the robotic hand recognises simple gestures such as paper, rock and scissors.
- Setup
- Flex sensors, Arduino and five servos
- Calibration
- Sensor values mapped to finger positions
- Display
- Live measurements in the browser
Place in the learning path
From platforms to projects.
The platforms build computational thinking. The projects use that thinking in a cross-curricular assignment in which students build, measure, test and conclude.
Platforms
STEaM projects
Smart Plants
Arduino, soil moisture, calibration and data.
Robotic hand
Arduino, sensors, servos and movement.
Wind
Micro:bit, energy, voltage and current.
Smart bin
AI, image recognition, data and microcontrollers.
Self-learning games
Getting started with machine learning
Particulate matter
Arduino, air quality, data and poster session.
For teachers
A synthesis project after Arduino.
This project belongs at the end of a pathway in which students have already worked with Arduino. They bring prior knowledge together in a larger system: reading sensors, controlling servos, testing, adjusting and explaining why the robotic hand does or does not respond well.
- For students who already know Arduino, variables, pins and serial data.
- Combines electronics, code and mechanics in one working whole.
- Provides meaningful test questions: which sensor position works reliably, how quickly does the servo respond, which gesture is recognised?
- Works well in pairs or small groups, with one robotic hand as a class setup.
Materials
What do you need in class?
Arduino
An Arduino UNO or similar board that connects to the computer by USB.
Sensor glove
Flex sensors or similar sensors to make finger bending measurable.
Servomotors
Five servos that can move the fingers of the robotic hand.
Browser
Chrome or Edge for WebSerial. Without hardware, the demo mode can be used.
Privacy and licence
Privacy
This project does not use its own analytics or advertising cookies. Input, progress and sensor data are processed in the browser and may be stored locally on the device. A download or export occurs only when the user initiates it. Connected hardware is accessed only after permission is given in the browser. GitHub Pages logs visitors’ IP addresses for security purposes; external services are governed by their provider’s privacy policy.
License
Original project material by Robbe Wulgaert may be used, copied and adapted free of charge for education, provided that ‘Robbe Wulgaert – AI in de Klas’ is clearly displayed, where reasonably practical with a link to the original project. Commercial sale, paid distribution, sublicensing or repackaging as a commercial product is not permitted without prior written permission. Other uses outside education also require prior written permission. Third-party components remain subject to their own licences.
Open the robotic hand platform.
Connect the Arduino, test the demo mode or use the visualisation to discuss sensor values and movement.