Robotic Third Arm Can Smash Through Walls
When we've written about adding useful robotic bits to people in the past, whether it's some extra fingers or an additional arm or two, the functionality has generally been limited to slow moving, lightweight tasks. Holding or carrying things. Stabilizing objects or the user. That sort of thing. But that's not what we want. What we want are wearable robotic arms that turn us into a superhero, like Marvel Comics' Doc Ock, who I'm just going to go ahead and assume is a good guy because those robotic arms strapped to his torso look awesome.
At ICRA this week, researchers from Université de Sherbrooke in Canada are finally giving us what we want, in the form of a waist-mounted remote controlled hydraulic arm that can help you with all kinds of tasks while also being able, should you feel the need, to smash through walls.
Supernumerary 3DOF Robotic Arm (2m50s video)
Multifunctional 3-DOF Wearable Supernumerary Robotic Arm Based on Magnetorheological Clutches
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday June 05 2020, @02:22PM (4 children)
But can it also be kind? Can it pat me on the back when I've done a good job, or caress my hair when I've had a tough day, or hold my hand when I'm lonely?
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 05 2020, @06:15PM (3 children)
It can do... so much more... hnnngh.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 05 2020, @08:56PM
Hopefully embedded Windows won't hang on the "yank" command.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 05 2020, @11:22PM
Yes!
It looks quite useful in dispatching Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and other nuisances that magically seem to appear in front of you.
Just equip it with cattle prod.
I'm gonna duck now and get outta here!
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Saturday June 06 2020, @01:07PM
It will need to be dressed in something a lot more attractive before that idea takes off.