World’s First Robotic Arm Controlled by Thoughts

Researchers based at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed the world’s first artificial limbs controlled by thought.The idea of Robotic arms controlled by thoughts , was Derived from the sci-fi movie that could soon become reality. Perhaps sooner you can imagine: The news comes from Sweden of the development of a prototype digital arm implantable in a human being with the ability to monitor their movements directly with the thought. The study by the researcher Ortiz Catalan, Chalmers University of Technology.

The world of medicine has so far drawn from robotics massively and made significant advances in the technologies available. As far as possible to the present day there is in fact for some time: the case of robotic limbs controlled by electric motors and are able to perceive in the electrical stimuli. So far the was  Two major problems:

• The need to program in advance the possible movements, making the use of such implants particularly uncomfortable,
• and obstacles in connecting the measuring circuits and detection to the nervous system.

Research conducted by Catalan, however, seems to be destined to cross both barriers.

Although currently using implanted electrodes connected under the skin and the prototypes developed in Sweden may in fact be directly connected to the nervous system. It will resolve a number of issues of various kinds, primarily issue of the handling the change in operating conditions linked to movements and other external factors. 

In so doing, the sensors inside the arm can interface directly with nerves and muscles , thus allowing the patient to send stimuli with the thought and also thanks to the presence of algorithms capable of transforming these stimuli into commands to the actuators.

The first tests in laboratories have provided very positive results, thanks to the availability given by some patients who have decided to undergo a series of exercises to verify the good work done by Catalan and other researchers.

The next step, along with the improvement of reading and interpretation of electrical signals from the brain. The development of robotic prostheses so they can set foot outside the Swedish laboratories.It will allowing patients around the world to have provision a new limb which artificial intelligence.

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Posted by Paracha on December 3, 2012. Filed under Innovation, News, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.