Morten Grønning has designed Happaratus, a glove for an augmented hand that can sculpt hard materials by touch

Designed for craft sculptors and modellers, Happaratus was produced as part of the Innovation Design Engineering MA/MSc run jointly with Imperial College, and is a new tool to help create ‘hand crafted’ items quickly. The glove is fixed with a motor and filing heads on three fingers and can carve through wood, concrete and other hard materials, with the dexterity and fluidity of touch.

To sculpt, the user simply has to run one of the augmented fingers along a surface, applying the desired amount of pressure in order to carve away at the required depth.  Oscillating pads on the fingertips are powered by an attached hydraulic motor, and interchangeable heads mean it has a range of applications from stone carving through to finishing 3D models.

Grønning has described the glove as a “disruptive tool” with the potential to change the way that traditional craftworkers, such as woodcarvers, are able to interact with materials. He has developed it with the guidance of potential users, such as artists and furniture restorers, creating a tool that enables users to work more intuitively than current technologies enable.  

We've seen wearable tech serve many different purposes in many shapes and sizes. Altruis is a range of jewellery that battles 'notification nausea', helping wearers disconnect to reconnect.

Happaratus can be seen at the RCA Show Kensington until 5th July.