Robotic Arm From Dean Kamen
March 12, 2007 | 1 Comment
Wow.
Gizmodo has had a couple articles about this. The quality of the video is pretty bad, most likely from a cellphone video camera. Apparently Dean Kamen and DEKA Research have set out to create the best looking and most functional prosthetic arm ever. He agreed to take on this major technological task after meeting with many of our nations wounded soldiers.
On the front of best looking, they intend to take full 3D scans of a person’s opposite arm in a hope to make an exact mirror image for the other arm. In a case where both arms have been lost, they will make a best attempt to recreate an arm that fits the individual.
As for control, the goal is to create an arm with the dexterity to pick up a grape or raisin and be able to tell the difference without looking. This extreme movement forward in technology will not be simple. One of the ways they are attempting involves stem cell research and an implant in a person’s shoulder which will interface directly with the brain and wirelessly to the prosthetic robotic arm.
From this blurry view of the promotional video, we can tell that they have made a pretty good start here. I hope they are able to tackle the impossible and create this modern marvel.
Tags: arm, dean kamen, deka, deka research, gizmodo, kamen, prosthetic, research, robotic, robotic arm, robotics, stem cell research