🤖 The “Third Thumb”: Expanding human capability

ADVANCEMENTS IN ROBOTICS

1. 🤖 “Third Thumb” -  Augmenting humanity in real time

We often ask: What if our bodies weren’t bound by what we were born with? A fascinating collaboration between Cambridge researchers and Dani Clode is pushing that boundary with the Third Thumb, a 3D-printed robotic digit mounted opposite the biological thumb, offering a kind of wearable superpower.

Over five days at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, nearly 600 participants (ages 3 to 96) tested the device. That’s not just curiosity, it’s proof of inclusivity. The Thumb isn’t about replacing anything; it’s about augmenting, offering extra grip, multitasking, stability, or even helping people with limitations in natural hand control.

Control is delightfully unconventional: pressure from the toe lets users manipulate the thumb up/down or side to side. It’s subtle, but it opens up so many possibilities from assembly tasks to musical performance.

But beyond the marvel lies responsibility. As Prof. Tamar Makin notes, this kind of motor augmentation demands we rethink humanity and who gets to benefit. Marginalized communities are too often excluded from early-stage innovation. If we build with empathy and inclusion, devices like this won’t just change individual lives, they could shift societal definitions of ability. Let’s keep that in mind.

2. 🎥 Rise: Shotoku has just unveiled its new Swoop line of robotic cranes at IBC2025, designed to take the elbow grease out of studio camera work. With models reaching 140 cm and 220 cm plus two base styles (robotic or manual), these cranes promise sweeping cinematic shots without needing multiple operators. They integrate with Shotoku’s TR-XT control system and SoftRail paths so movements are precise, repeatable, and safety-aware.

3. 🩺 Precision: The Focalist handheld robotic system just performed its first US PCNL procedures at WCET marking a leap in kidney stone surgery. Equipped with real-time ultrasound, robotic needle positioning, and continuous depth tracking, it’s built to make precise access much more reliable even for surgeons early in their experience. With FDA clearance secured and broader specialties in view for 2026, this could reshape how interventional medicine approaches delicate internal access.

4. 🤷‍♂️ Reality Check: Humanoid robots are capturing imaginations and venture capital but scaling from prototypes to useful legions is proving tougher than many thought. From battery limitations to safety rules and lack of large-scale deployment outside of ideal conditions, the gaps are real. Companies like Agility and Tesla may produce more units, but until there’s repeatable demand and robust infrastructure, humanoids remain futuristic promises more than everyday workers.

5. 🧠 Grip: At the University of Tulsa, Professor Joshua Schultz is refining a new anthropomorphic robotic hand that balances complexity and efficiency. With just four motors (two for the thumb, two for the other fingers) plus spring-based transmissions, the hand adapts to irregular shapes and mimics human grasping without overengineering. By learning from human hands especially those affected by arthritis, they’ve found creative ways to preserve functionality even when joints are limited.

ROBOTICS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK

1. ⚡ Musk Backfire: Elon Musk faces backlash after a Tesla robot demo goes wrong, sparking questions about the tech’s readiness.

2. 🤯 Chaos in Motion: A triple pendulum shows why mimicking the human hand’s 27 degrees of freedom in robots is anything but simple.

3. ⚡ Future Shock: Robots are entering jobs faster than expected, reshaping industries and raising urgent questions about human work.

4. 🤖 First Step: A beginner’s guide that takes you from circuits to building your very first robot perfect for students and hobbyists.

5. 🚀 Dreamforce: Figure’s humanoid robot made its debut at Dreamforce, showcasing the future of workplace automation.

6. 🚨 Rescue Tech: A four-legged, wheeled robot conquers rough terrains and climbs platforms autonomously built for search-and-rescue missions.

7. 🤖 Robo Ballet: DeepMind’s AI choreographs up to 8 robot arms in sync, boosting motion planning efficiency by 25%.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

How to make viral AI videos using Google Gemini?

SPECIAL

🤖 Golden age of robotics - Beyond the AI hype

We are stepping into what many believe is a golden age for robotics startups, and it’s not just because of AI. According to TechCrunch, robotics investment is surging >$6B poured into the sector in the first seven months of 2025 with indicators pointing to 2025 beating 2024 overall.

What’s driving this? Cheaper hardware, smarter sensors, better batteries, and refined software stacks. But just as important are the lessons learned over the past decade. Founders and investors are more attuned to genuine market needs. Early failures, wrong product-market fits, overreliance on hype aren’t forgotten. They’re the foundation for smarter scaling.

There’s also a shift in what “robotics” means. Rather than imagining humanoid servants in every home, the real momentum is around industrial automation, machine tending, logistics, healthcare, and elder care-domains where robotics offers tangible ROI today.

For innovators, funders, and ecosystem builders: this is a moment of rare convergence. The tools are better. The capital is flowing. The terrain is fertile. But ambition needs discipline. As robotics rises, the winners will be those who build with humility, deeply rooted customer insight, and a readiness to iterate. The golden age won’t be won by hype, it’ll be earned.

PROMPT OF THE WEEK

Create a story script about being triggered in a relationship and handling it mindfully.

Write a story-based script (500–700 words) about a moment in a romantic relationship where one partner feels emotionally triggered during a conversation or conflict.

The story should:

Start with a relatable, real-life situation (e.g., a partner forgetting something important, dismissing a feeling, or using a harsh tone).

Describe the internal emotional response of the triggered person—thoughts, body sensations, childhood memories or past wounds being touched.

Illustrate a mindful pause—where the character catches themselves and chooses to respond consciously rather than react impulsively.

Show how they express their emotions using “I feel…” statements or a mindful communication technique (like NVC - Nonviolent Communication).

End with a resolution or deepening of intimacy that results from mindful handling of the situation.

The tone should be warm, grounded, emotionally honest, and easy to relate to—like a spoken-word storytelling session.

Bonus: Include a short reflection at the end on what the reader/viewer can learn about self-awareness and emotional maturity from the story.

Final Output: This should be ready-to-use as a script for a video, podcast, or Instagram reel.

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Until tomorrow!

Shinky & the Hanoomaan AI team