A PARALYSED man can pick up items and move objects once again thanks to a robotic arm controlled entirely with his mind.
The groundbreaking technology worked for a record seven months with needing any adjustments – unlike similar devices that only tend to work for a day or two.
Tech could help other disabled people unable feed themselves or fetch a drink[/caption]
A paralysed man was left unable to move or speak after a stroke several years ago.
But scientists from the University of California San Francisco used brain implants with AI that enable him to simply imagine movements.
Tiny sensors on the surface of his brain detect brain activity which are interpreted by a computer to control the robotic arm.
The arm can grasp, move and drop objects.
“This blending of learning between humans and AI is the next phase for these brain-computer interfaces,” said Professor Karunesh Ganguly, a neurologist at UCSF.
“It’s what we need to achieve sophisticated, lifelike function.“
Footage released by the university shows the man’s robotic arm able to grab a plastic cup and place it under a drink dispenser.
For now, the arm moves quite slowly.
But it has the potential to be a life-changer for paralysed people so they can feed themselves or get a drink.
“I’m very confident that we’ve learned how to build the system now, and that we can make this work,” Ganguly added.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink company has been working on similar technology.
A video recently released by the company appeared to show a participant writing with a robotic arm.
Neuralink’s first human patient Noland Arbaugh successfully used the technology to control the mouse cursor on his laptop and play Mario Kart.
University of California San Francisco’s research was published in the Cell journal.
Noland Arbaugh was the first person to receive a Neuralink implant[/caption]
What is Neuralink?
Here’s what you need to know…
- Neuralink is a project that aims to embed computer chips in people’s brains
- The idea is to give humans hyper-intelligence by merging them with artificial intelligence
- Tiny threads thinner than a human hair would pump information into your noggin
- It would work a bit like an internet cable, transmitting data in and out at high speeds
- As well as making us smarter, the project promises to merge us with computers and phones
- That means you could control your gizmos with your brain
- Neuralink is bankrolled by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk
- He’s previously said the tech could save us from a machine uprising in future
