Techotic

For the first time, Monkeys have been able to control robotic limbs using only their thoughts, they were able to feed themselves marshmallows and chunks of fruit with a pair of prosthetic arms jacked directly into their brains. Neuro-control tests on monkeys and humans aren’t new, but apparently performing complicated physical activities such as eating is a huge challenge.

These tests on monkeys were carried out at the University of Pittsburgh and their work could eventually help amputees and people who are paralyzed.

With the probes inserted into the monkeys’ motor cortices, computer software was used to interpret the brain’s electrical impulses and translate them into movement through the robotic arm.

This arm was jointed like a human arm and possessed a “gripper” that mimics a hand.

After some training, two monkeys - who had had their own arms restrained - were able to use the prosthetic limbs to feed themselves with marshmallows and chunks of fruit.

The researchers said that the movements were fluid and natural.

The monkeys were able to use their brains to continuously change the speed and direction of the arm and the gripper, suggesting that the monkeys had come to regard the robotic arm as a part of their own bodies.

The success rate of the experiment was 61%.

The demo was captured on video and posted on Youtube by New Scientist.

[via bbc news]