MIT gurus developing bionic feet / ankles
By Darren Murph 
posted April 3rd 2007 9:37AM
posted April 3rd 2007 9:37AM
Leave it to the brilliant minds at MIT's Biomechatronics Lab to crank out yet another bionic limb, as a newfangled mechanical foot / ankle combo is apparently on the minds of more than a few of its researchers. In a recent patent application, the team describes an "artificial foot and ankle joint" consisting of a "leaf spring foot member," flexible elastic ankle, and an actuator motor that applies force to the ankle. Aside from sporting a fairly intelligent system to improving one's gait, it also boasts a built-in safety feature that prevents foot rotation beyond a specified angle, and the internal sensors can also activate the motors at different intervals depending on the surface in which one is walking. The prosthetic feet join a horde of other bionic limbs and appendages meant to make life as an amputee a fair bit easier, and as terrific as this here invention sounds, we're betting the Olympic committee dashes your hopes of illegally obliterating a few running records by barring these from basic competitions.[Via NewScientistTech]
"built-in safety feature that prevents foot rotation beyond a specified angle"
why? that would be AWESOME!!! you could do some amazing kung-fu with a 360-degree rotating foot!!!
I bet this thing isn't cheap.
War is profitable, eh?
Let's just hope Skynet does'nt get a hold of these bionic parts...
It'll only become a great story when they sieze Heather Mills' new foot as an infringing device.
Sorry about the Dancing with the Stars reference.
I think there was a recent wired article about a south african who was trying to get into the olympics even though he had to wear 2 of a similar device.
Hugh Herr--the guy who patented this--is a fascinating guy. I've heard him speak several times and had the chance to meet him. He's a bilateral amputee and has constructed a range of prosthetic devices.
Definitely some of my favorite work from the MIT Media Lab folks. Really important stuff from a guy very passionate about making it.
@FrankTheCrank
And no, his work is not done at the behest of war profits. But thankfully his work can help out a lot of vets serving our country.
More on Dr. Herr:
http://biomech.media.mit.edu/people/herr.htm
I hope they make it water proof . . . as an amputee . . . usually the cool new stuff that is supposed to make you more active is prohibited from water immersion . . . which for me kind of defeats the purpose.
check out proprio foot just got one first in state nice
proprio foot is new and great but not water prof and you have to charge it every 2 days so far it is great mark