Dean Kamen's "Luke" artificial arm gets demoed on video

It's still awaiting formal clinical trials, but Dean Kamen's so-called "Luke" artificial arm has already gone through its share of tests, which we can now thankfully catch a glimpse of courtesy of a new video from the folks at IEEE Spectrum Online. That same video also helpfully provides a few more details on the arm, including word that it can be controlled through a variety of means including foot pedals, nerves or muscles, and that it packs force feedback to give the wearer an indication of grip strength, among other suitably sci-fi-like things. Of course, none of this exactly does the arm justice, so be sure to check out the video at the read link below to see it in action for yourself.

[Thanks, Sarah]

[Ma2T @ Feb 5th 2008 4:03PM]

Wow, now that is very impressive.

It's great to see modern technology being used in such a way. Serious life changing technology.

[Ellianth @ Feb 5th 2008 4:54PM]

Yeah that arm is truly amazing! Hopefully they can get them to be super cheap. No one should go through life without hands.

"i can do stuff that i haven't been able to do in 20 years"
"like what?"

Anyone else thinks the guy was thinking of 'getting in touch with himself?'

[chase @ Feb 5th 2008 5:35PM]

i'm pretty sure you are the only one who thought that.

I'm not sure that a cold mechanical arm would do the trick for me...

[low tech @ Feb 5th 2008 7:30PM]

FMA cosplay anyone?

[Blackstar @ Feb 5th 2008 9:56PM]

Fine print: **Assimilation tubules cost extra.

[Lamprey @ Feb 5th 2008 4:13PM]

GROOVY.

Gimme sume sugar baby!

[brian welch @ Feb 5th 2008 4:07PM]

That is absolutely amazing. Not to mention heartwarming. You can just about forgive them for the segway. *q:=

[ethana2 @ Feb 5th 2008 11:57PM]

I won't forgive them any sooner than I'll forgive apple. Make your own.

May the source be with you.

[Stan @ Feb 5th 2008 4:17PM]

I think, and my thoughts cross the barrier into the synapses of the
machine, just as the good doctor intended. But what I cannot shake,
and what hints at things to come, is that thoughts cross back. In my
dreams, the sensibility of the machine invades the periphery of my
consciousness: dark, rigid, cold, alien. Evolution is at work here,
but just what is evolving remains to be seen.

[Ellianth @ Feb 5th 2008 4:55PM]

Where have I read/heard that before?

[onedollarbill @ Feb 5th 2008 5:50PM]

Alpha Centauri

[Patrick @ Feb 5th 2008 4:20PM]

Literally breath-taking. Amazing.

And it's no surprise that Kamen's showing his nerdy stripes with the naming. Denim shirts represent.

[Bad Beaver @ Feb 5th 2008 4:21PM]

Most impressive!

[John @ Feb 5th 2008 6:55PM]

but he is not a Jedi yet..

[Miguel @ Feb 5th 2008 4:23PM]

The stuff of science fiction, no doubt. Now he just needs to streamline it.

[Fred @ Feb 5th 2008 4:27PM]

I thought is was just his arm in that photo. It's pretty amazing. I think the next test should see how well he plays Segway Polo with that thing.

[Matt @ Feb 5th 2008 4:28PM]

"I fed myself for the first time in 26 years."

Impressive stuff, and it will only get better in the years to come.

[EQB @ Feb 5th 2008 4:29PM]

The force is strong with this one ;-)

[disophisis @ Feb 5th 2008 4:32PM]

it looks so weird; he looks like a robot moving the arm around... I guess that's cause it's a robotic arm, huh?

[jcoulter43 @ Feb 5th 2008 4:54PM]

That is the most amazing thing I've seen in years. Dean is truly a genius!

[YouFaceTheTick @ Feb 5th 2008 4:53PM]

Wow. Seriously incredible looking. If anyone will ever make bipedal robots that will become our overlords it's Dean Kamen.

[carlos @ Feb 5th 2008 5:01PM]

things keep getting better

[andy @ Feb 5th 2008 5:09PM]

Truly amazing! Now all it needs is a USB port.

[Reader @ Feb 5th 2008 6:16PM]

and be able to play MP3s

[Chris @ Feb 5th 2008 5:14PM]

well the I had a horrible time trying to hear some of the people, but that is really amazing. It's great that technology can help people out like this.

[kurt @ Feb 5th 2008 5:18PM]

He wasn't electrocuted. No arm can rehabilitate someone after that.

[skulldriveshaft @ Feb 5th 2008 6:24PM]

saywha?

[Blake Bowen @ Feb 5th 2008 8:56PM]

Actually, the loss of one or more arms is fairly common in arm-to-arm electrocutions where the person doesn't die. You see tons of these guys if you watch the safety videos in a wiring class.

[JLTate @ Feb 5th 2008 10:22PM]

While I don't think what he said was funny, he's correct.

"Death caused by an electric shock is referred to as electrocution."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_shock)

[tekdemon @ Feb 6th 2008 4:16AM]

Yeah, the cution part of electrocution is much like the word execution. Electrocution means you've been killed by electricity.

So kurt is correct. The guy didn't lose his arm when he was electrocuted, he lost his arm when he was almost electrocuted.

[kurt @ Feb 6th 2008 10:32AM]

JLTate is probably right. Not funny. As long as people low-ranked it for lack of humor and not lack of truth, I can deal.

[jtc970 @ Feb 5th 2008 5:17PM]

I'd cut off my left arm for this thing

[chase @ Feb 5th 2008 5:33PM]

call me crazy, but this is gonna change the world in much more significant ways than ol' Dean swore the Segway would.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

[ethana2 @ Feb 5th 2008 11:59PM]

The segway would have changed the world. It's a powerful concept.

How do you like your patent system now?

[tgranbois @ Feb 5th 2008 6:22PM]

yeah but at least he will now be able to operate his custom Fleshlight (greatest invention ever btw)

[chase @ Feb 5th 2008 7:51PM]

actually, I spoke with Dean yesterday and not only does he have a custom fleshlight attachment for the Luke, but has segway wheel attachments for a fleshlight that you can use hands free while doing push ups

lol

[m @ Feb 5th 2008 5:42PM]

very impressive-- but i'd prefer to see him crush something, like a chrome-plated robotic skull.

[Jon Doe. @ Feb 5th 2008 5:42PM]

As if such developments are surprising to see. We see news reports of men and women in our armed forces being killed. What we don't see is the thousands upon thousands of people (Far more then those who have died, who are maimed for life. An entire industry is about to grow around these people, and as such technology like this is being fast tracked to try and bring a little normalcy back to those people who put their lives on the line to find Saddam's weapons of mass destruction...oops sorry....on the line to fight terrorism....sorry the brain washing doesn't always kick in when it needs to.

[JLTate @ Feb 5th 2008 5:55PM]

Shut up about politics and be happy with the new life changing prosthetics.

[Sarah @ Feb 5th 2008 7:30PM]

In fact, the number of amputees is now at around 795. Not happy news, but a far cry from thousands.

[r00 @ Feb 6th 2008 12:41PM]

You forgot one of these, ).

[THJ @ Feb 5th 2008 6:20PM]

I'm thinking about getting metal legs. It's a risky operation, but it'll be worth it.

[skulldriveshaft @ Feb 5th 2008 6:34PM]

From Segway dude to Saviour, nice going Dean.

I still don't understand the Segway, maybe it's just WAY ahead of it's time or being used in the wrong niche?

But just jaw dropping wow on the artificial arm, thankfully some of those DARPA dollars are enhancing life.

[Kinney @ Feb 5th 2008 6:46PM]

Dean Kamen, Sarah Connor would like to have a word with you. She's got an M16, idk why.

[Gonzalo @ Feb 5th 2008 10:55PM]

Best hilarious comment til now...Seriously

[Senor_Tom @ Feb 5th 2008 6:46PM]

stunning, this is what science is really about.
but it has to be said...
does it play DOOM?

old i know..

[John @ Feb 5th 2008 6:57PM]

Wow, we really can rebuild him, we really do have the technology.

[Michael Nelson @ Feb 5th 2008 7:34PM]

Super awesome!

[Dimitrios @ Feb 5th 2008 7:46PM]

holly sh*t its robocop

[Johan S @ Feb 5th 2008 8:20PM]

It sounds (literally, I could swear I heard whirring) like they're using motors rather than electroactive polymers (artificial muscles). I suppose swapping out the motors when artificial muscle tech improves would be easy anyway.