DARPA certainly has its fair share of unique projects that are not only interesting, they also happen to have a potentially practical aspect to it all. In fact, the organization has put down some money for a mind-controlled robotic arm that was tested by Pittsburgh native Jan Scheuermann, where a subsequent paper was published to detail just how far this mind-controlled robotic arm has progressed in the past couple of years. Prior to removing the implants on the test subject, named Jan, she was already able to move the arm in addition to its wrist and fingers, while Jan reportedly beat her brother at a rock-paper-and-scissors game to boot.
Pitt School of Medicine professor Andrew Schwartz, Ph.D., shared, “Overall, our results indicate that highly coordinated, natural movement can be restored to people whose arms and hands are paralyzed.”
Jan had a surgery a couple of years ago to have neural implants in parts of her brain so that she can control her right arm and hand, prior before she lost control of everything else under the neck. Scientists are currently on the lookout for additional volunteers so that this particular technology can be improved. Looks like the six million dollar human is about to become reality sooner rather than later.
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