DARPA-funded bionic arm gets second prototype

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, no strangers to reaching for seemingly unattainable goals in medical science, have set their sights on what some consider to be the ultimate pursuit of modern prosthetics: a bionic arm that moves, looks and feels like its human counterpart. And they want to do it by 2009. An earlier prototype of the arm, the Proto 1, was shown in April of this year, and now the team of scientists is scrambling to ready the arm's second iteration, the Proto 2, in time to show it off this week at the 25th Darpa Systems and Technology Symposium (where it will likely be joined by Dean Kamen's Darpa funded bionic arm). Researchers hope that the prothesis, which is currently controlled by skin-surface-attached myoelectric sensors, can be made more intuitive by adding injectable sensors, which send increased amounts of signals (and have improved clarity) allowing for greater control of the arm. In time, the team hopes to move to nerve-attached electrodes, or electrode arrays implanted on the brain, which will eventually allow for full user dexterity.

[Via Wired]

[Nate @ Aug 8th 2007 11:07AM]

Darth Vader Ahoy!

[Akiosarin @ Aug 9th 2007 12:27PM]

Nooo foo! its Luke Skywalker, ahoy!
unless you mean the reason as to why you might need it....then I guess its Darth Vader xD Obi can come too.....an Leroy Jenkins

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 8th 2007 11:25AM]

Put your hand in the hand of the hand by the hand of the hand for the hand when the hand -OW!

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 8th 2007 11:41AM]

Mmm, how's Skynet rolling along?

[Matt E. @ Aug 8th 2007 4:16PM]

The Brits already launched it earlier this year...

[Kunikos @ Aug 8th 2007 12:22PM]

I'LL BE BAHCK

[Matt B @ Aug 8th 2007 2:20PM]

Mark Hamil had one of these 20 years ago

[Low @ Aug 8th 2007 2:34PM]

Can anyone say "Full Metal alchemist cosplay"?

[Ubl0 @ Aug 9th 2007 2:31AM]

I'd say bad idea 'cause you'll probably see Sarah Connor and his son destroy the prototype in a few weeks.. (sorry just watched The Sarah Connor Chronicles)..

[Xenoterranos @ Aug 9th 2007 9:57AM]

Lol, the tounge tickles...

[Akiosarin @ Aug 9th 2007 12:28PM]

LMAO!
http://www.jhuapl.edu/newscenter/aplnews/2006/images/arm.jpg

Dont know why that makes me lolirl, but, its just the angle of that "claw", imagine a doctor testing your nuts....an someone conveniently chucks water on the arm?

Sure...it'll probably be water proof, but dont spoil my fun xD