Two inventors from Bath are attempting to create the most life-like robotic hand in the world. Graham Whiteley and Craig Fletcher, who are co-directors of engineering company Elumotion, hope that their device will eventually have far-reaching applications in both medicine and defence. Based at Wansdyke Business Centre in Oldfield Lane, the duo work on creating robotic components that replicate human and biological motion. Their complex pieces of engineering already sell for tens of thousands of pounds. They hope that their inventions will one day be used as advanced prosthetics and in remotely operated bomb disposal robots.

Dr Whiteley and Mr Fletcher met while they were studying in Sheffield in 1998. Dr Whiteley later moved south to continue his research at the University of Bath. Last month, the company celebrated a milestone with the launch of its latest product, the Elu2-Hand, which has the sensitivity to respond appropriately to the external environment.