from the bet-it-will-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg dept.
Doctor Otto Octavius may have been a power-mad scientist bent on world domination and the utter ruin of his nemesis, Spider-Man, but the guy had some surprisingly cogent thoughts on prosthetics development. And although mind-controlled supernumerary robotic limbs like Doc Oc's still only exist in the realm of the Marvel Universe, researchers here in reality are getting pretty darn close to creating their own. And in the near future, we'll be strapping on extra appendages whenever we need a helping hand -- or supplemental third thumb.
Supernumerary Robotic Limbs (SRLs) are not prosthetics. They are designed to supplement a person's existing full complement of limbs as opposed to replacing the lost functionality of a missing one. That's not to say that an amputee couldn't use one of these devices, simply that they're meant to be used as add-ons to human protuberances instead of stand-ins for them.
Don't expect to toss cars around like throw pillows while wearing an SRL rig. Well, not initially at least (keep those fingers crossed, though). Rather, they're built to help people perform tasks that would otherwise be irritating, difficult or outright impossible without them -- like twisting a doorknob while carrying armfuls of moving boxes or holding a ceiling panel in place while you nail it in. So, rather than get yourself a helper, you could soon instead get a pair of MIT's shoulder-mounted SRLs.
Source: EnGadget
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 22 2017, @05:32AM (2 children)
I have a fear, that Anonymous might descend on SoylentNews in defense of aristarchus! Should we not take preventative actions to not be perceived as Neo-Nazi White Supremacist Alt-right Mighty Buzzard supporting people? Maybe?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 22 2017, @05:36AM (1 child)
No Comment!
(Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Tuesday August 22 2017, @06:48AM
I, for one, welcome our new "No Comment" overlords!
(Score: 2) by arslan on Tuesday August 22 2017, @07:13AM (1 child)
Heh this immediately reminds me of the scene in one of the Ghost in the Shell movies (not the recent hollywood adaptation) where the Major remote controlled her sidekick Batou's cybernetic arm to punch his own face after he made a lewd comment.... I wonder if I can get this thing to scratch an itch when I have my hands full..
(Score: 3, Touché) by FatPhil on Tuesday August 22 2017, @04:21PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 22 2017, @07:19AM
I've seen enough anime to know where this is going...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 22 2017, @12:17PM
Ford: Zaphod, great to see you, you're looking well. The extra arm suits you. Nice ship you've stolen.