Daidalonic

Designing a prosthesis, manufacturing it and demonstrating its precision and dexterity in tasks inspired by everyday life. That was the challenge of the 2nd University Prosthetic Hand Competition, in which Daidalonic, a team from the UPV Design Factory at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), took second place in the piloted prosthesis category.

Olga Gómez, a student who helped organise the competition and is part of the Daidalonic team, says that "for us, receiving this second prize, amidst tears and hugs, has been an indescribable thrill and the best reward after months of dedication. We are deeply proud of our pilots and our technical team, whose efforts have positioned us as leaders in the field of myoelectric prosthetics at the university level"

The competition took place on 15 May at the School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Eleven teams from various Spanish universities took part, bringing together just over 150 participants. They competed in two categories: with and without a pilot. In the piloted category, alongside Daidalonic from the UPV in second place, the podium was completed by Uji-Hand from the Universitat Jaume I in Castellón in first place, and ARM2u from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in third. In the unpiloted category, Extremanus from the University of Extremadura took first place.

The participating teams put the prostheses developed by university students to the test. They were assessed in various tests of grip, mobility and dexterity inspired by everyday activities.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Alongside the competition, the Daidalonic team took on organisational and communication tasks for the event, whilst Poliwood and Toma Uno, also teams from UPV Design Factory, collaborated on the audiovisual aspects.

The event also included a round-table discussion focusing on the real challenges of prosthetic development. It addressed issues such as accessibility, clinical adaptation, the impact on daily life and the role of engineering in creating functional solutions.

With record participation and universities from across the country in attendance, the competition has cemented its status as a national hub for university projects in biomechanics and mechatronics. The next edition will be held at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

UPV Design Factory

Furthermore, Olga Gómez explains that "for us, being part of the UPV Design Factory with Daidalonic means having the opportunity to fulfil our dreams, transforming our ideas into realities that make a difference to people's lives. More than a team, we are a family united by challenges, technology and the drive to excel, and this prize is proof of that."

UPV Design Factory is the pioneering programme of the Universitat Politècnica de València, launched in 2014. It serves as a launchpad for students' interdisciplinary projects, promoting 'learning by doing' and cross-curricular competencies. It also supports participation in national and international competitions. This academic year brings together 65 teams comprising 3,000 students and consolidates the UPV as a leading university in Spain.