USA: Monkeys control robotic arms using only their brains

Record ID: 401543

  • Title: USA: Monkeys control robotic arms using only their brains
  • Date: 30th May 2008
  • Summary: (BN14) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (MAY 29, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. ANDREW SCHWARTZ, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RESEARCHER, SAYING: "There have already been about four patients implanted with these same kind of electrodes that we are using, and we think that in a year or two, we'll actually have humans operating devices very similar to this.
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVAK5UO28JWPYKWIEL9WOJQ7ANS
  • Story Text: Monkeys control a robotic arm by brainpower alone in scientific study that has implications for humans with spinal cord injuries.
    Using only its brainpower, a monkey can direct a robotic arm to pluck a marshmallow from a skewer and stuff it into its mouth, U.S.
    researchers said on Wednesday (May 28).
    The research was led by Dr. Andrew Schwartz of the Motorlab, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His study will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Nature.
    Schwartz said the technology behind this feat may lead to brain-powered prosthetic limbs for people with spinal cord injuries or disabling diseases that make such simple tasks impossible.
    Until now, such brain-machine interfaces have been used to control cursor movements on a computer screen. Schwartz and colleagues wanted to apply the technology to real-world tasks.
    The monkey guides the robot arm the same way it does its natural limbs, through brain signals.
    Schwartz' team picks up those signals through an array of microelectrodes half the size of a thumbtack that has been implanted in the monkey's brain. These signals are amplified and relayed to a computer that operates the robotic arm.
    So far, they have trained two monkeys to feed themselves with the robotic arm. The monkeys sit in a chair with their arms gently restrained in sleeves that keep them from simply grabbing the food on their own. "These animals will just relax their arms as they control these devices,"
    Schwartz said.
    The ultimate goal is to develop a brain-powered prosthesis that can restore near-natural function to an amputee or person with a spinal cord injury.
    But first, they want to refine the system. The next step is to develop an operating wrist and jointed fingers to add dexterity to the device.
    The researchers must overcome several engineering challenges, including developing more durable electrodes that do not lose their signal over time, but Schwartz believes such devices are feasible.
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