Scientists have successfully enabled a robotic arm to be controlled by thought process alone. The New Scientist magazine reports on a scientific breakthrough whereby a monkey can feed itself by thinking of moving the robotic arm towards its mouth. Previously this type of experiment concentrated on applying the brains neuron discharge to cause a set of muscles to contract in a specific way. This in turn powers a set of microprocessors which act as the interface to the robotic arm and produces a set of movements. This new method however uses the neuron discharge to directly control the microprocessors.
It is hoped that this type of technology can be used to advance bio-mechanics. Imagine the use for this technology. Medically, people who have been paralysed may be able to walk again with the use of actuators implanted within their legs. Or people who have lost limbs may be able to have a prosthetic limb which functions in exactly the same way as the original limb would work.
The technology used in this experiment is far in advance of previous attempts to interface directly with the brain. A set of electrodes, the width of a human hair have been inserted into the area of the brain know as the motor cortex. This area is responsible for controlling all motor function within the body. Usually millions of neurons fire to produce complex motor function within the body.
Based upon this research the team at the University of Pittsburgh are getting human test subjects ready. Previously this type of research has concentrated on animal experiments and within a virtual environment. However the technology is perceived to be significantly advanced to start human testing.
"It's impressive how naturally the animal interacts with the robot," says John Kalaska, a neuroscientist at the University of Montreal. "It's a natural extension of their own body because they control it so easily just by thinking." In tests undertaken by Pittsburgh University, A monkey was able to control the arm to reach for a marshmallow and guide it to its mouth successfully with one monkey reaching a success rate of 61%. The University is hoping to advance this technology further over the coming years but The New Scientist have issued a warning stating that "treatments for people with disabilities are still years away. Schwarz's robotic arm requires computers, bulky equipment and a technician, and brain-implanted electrodes may not last a lifetime. And ideally, a prosthetic would send tactile sensations back to the brain – a challenge scientists are only beginning to tackle."
For more on Robotics visit The New Scientists special report.
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