Independent fingers
Five servo-driven actuator modules can be positioned and operated independently.
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Remote hardware interaction
Working Prototype
MA3 Claw
Remote robotic control for physical equipment.
A network-controlled robotic actuator that allows an engineer, QA tester, or test system to physically press equipment buttons from another location.
05 ACTUATORSWEB CONTROLMAGNETIC MOUNT
The physical interface gap
Remote software cannot press a real button.
Remote access works well when equipment provides a software-control interface. But many machines still depend on physical buttons, switches, and operator controls that cannot be activated through conventional remote-desktop or test software.
MA3 Claw bridges that gap. A remote operator or automated test system can command physical actuators positioned directly over the equipment controls.
The original use case was remote QA testing of casino slot machines: an engineer could observe a machine through a camera and press its buttons over the network. The same concept can extend to other equipment with physical controls.
How it works
From remote command to physical contact.
- 01
Position
Magnetically place the finger modules over the physical buttons that need to be operated.
- 02
Calibrate
Configure each finger’s raised position, pressed position, and press duration.
- 03
Observe
View the target equipment through a separate camera or existing remote-video system.
- 04
Operate
Press individual controls remotely from the browser or a connected software interface.
System capabilities
Mechanical compliance meets embedded control.
Compliant mechanisms
Each mechanical finger flexes at contact to protect servo gears and tolerate button-height differences.
Magnetic mounting
Magnetic bases allow fast positioning on compatible metal equipment without permanent modification.
Browser control
Operate the controller from a phone, tablet, or computer through a standard browser interface.
Per-finger calibration
Configure the raised and pressed positions independently for every actuator.
Press duration
Set how long each finger holds a physical control before returning to its raised position.
Network operation
Connect remote operators or test software to physical controls over a network.
No app required
Basic operation uses the browser, eliminating dedicated client-software installation.
Modular actuator
MA3 Claw Finger Kit
The modular building block behind the MA3 Claw system.
Each kit contains a micro servo, compliant finger mechanism, magnetic mounting base, magnet, servo horn, and assembly hardware.
The compliant finger provides mechanical forgiveness during button presses, helping reduce shock loads on the servo gears. The magnetic mounting base allows each finger to be positioned independently on a steel machine cabinet or control surface.
Finger modules can be used individually or combined into custom one-, two-, three-, five-, or multi-finger actuator arrays.
- Modular single-finger actuator
- MG90S micro servo
- Compliant 3D-printed finger mechanism
- Magnetic mounting puck
- Independently positioned and calibrated
- Replaceable and serviceable module
- Expandable into custom actuator arrays
Technical architecture
A direct path from browser to button.
01Remote browser
or test software
→or test software
02Network
connection
→connection
03MA3 Claw
controller
→controller
04Five servo
outputs
→outputs
05Compliant fingers
→ machine buttons
→ machine buttons
Prototype gallery
Working hardware and browser controls.
The images document the current functional prototype rather than finished production hardware.
Potential applications
Physical testing without physical presence.
- 01Casino game and slot-machine QA
- 02Industrial control-panel testing
- 03Kiosk testing
- 04Laboratory equipment
- 05Consumer electronics testing
- 06Remote troubleshooting and demonstrations
Development status
Interested in remote physical testing or a custom robotic actuator?
MA3 Claw is a working MA3 Engineering prototype currently being evaluated for further development. Tell us about the equipment or testing problem you need to solve.