Dexterity Robotic Armature for Hazardous Materials Manipulation Operated via Haptic Interface Glove; Societal Pull on Safety Critical Robotics

The advancement of robotics presents a powerful opportunity to improve safety across diverse fields. This project combines technical innovation and sociotechnical analysis to investigate the development and accessibility of safety-critical robotic systems. As part of a multidisciplinary capstone project, a team of electrical and computer engineering students designed and implemented a low-cost, open source robotic arm controlled via a haptic glove interface. The system was built using 3D-printed components, Hall-Effect sensors, magnets, and accessible microcontroller platforms to ensure reproducibility by research groups worldwide. Functionality testing demonstrated effective object manipulation, though full joint articulation was limited by time constraints. Complementing this technical work, a research study applied the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework to analyze how various social groups—including engineers, business owners, policymakers, and workers—influence the development of safety-critical robotics. Through literature review, policy analysis, and stakeholder mapping, the study found that current development trajectories are largely shaped by profit-driven actors, with limited agency afforded to workers and the public. The research highlights the need for increased public engagement and knowledge dissemination to promote more equitable and safety-oriented robotic innovation.