Robot Controls Person's Arm To Manipulate Objects 77
An anonymous reader writes "French researchers have demonstrated a robot that controls its own arm as well as a person's arm to manipulate objects in a collaborative manner, IEEE reports. Electrodes attached to the person's arm allow the robot to make the elbow and hand move to perform tasks. The tasks are currently simple (dropping a ball through a hoop, as shown in one of their videos), but the researchers say more complex ones are possible. They also say the approach has therapeutic benefits and their goal is to 'develop robotic technologies that can help people suffering from paralysis and other disabilities to regain some of their motor skills.'"
I, for one, welcome... (Score:5, Funny)
In Soviet Russia... (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:In Soviet Russia... (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, since the article is about robots controlling humans, the joke would have to be "In Soviet Russia, you control robots!"
And yes that now is a joke.
Overlords? (Score:2)
Today they control your arm, tomorrow - your arse.
Re: (Score:1)
Nyet! In Soviet Russia robot MANIPULATE you!
In Soviet... (Score:1)
In Soviet France robot controls you. In corporate America you control robot!!
Re:In Soviet... (Score:4, Interesting)
In Soviet France robot controls you. In corporate America you control robot!!
Silly you!
In Soviet Russia government controls YOU!
In Corporate America corporations control GOVERNMENT
In Socialist France the people control GOVERNMENT
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Fun?
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Then why do the French riot every other week?
To show their anger with their government. Seems to work, too. Their government often listens.
In France the government fears, or at least respects, the people.
Can't quite say that about the good ol' USA, can you?
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In France the government fears, or at least respects, the people.
Considering what happened during the French Revolution, the current Powers-That-Be has good reason to fear the French people. They stormed the Bastille once, and celebrate it every year just to remind the government that they aren't afraid to do it again.
That, and the French people weren't afraid to invent and use the guillotine.
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Then why do the French riot every other week?
More to the point, why don't Americans?
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Zombie robot soldiers!
They had these in Sucker Punch!
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I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.
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Hey! I didn't mean to type that! How-- aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
excellent idea (Score:2)
there is one repetitive motion that I must do with my hand once in a while that I may wish was done without my direct participation. On the other hand... what if the software fails and the hand goes all the way over my head?
What? What? I hate doing all this calligraphy training.
So... (Score:1)
develop robotic technologies that can help people suffering from paralysis and other disabilities to regain some of their motor skills.
They're working on the technology for cyborgs?
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The Borg have to start somewhere...
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damn you said it before i could.
we are the Borg you will be assimilated resistance is futile
Article is worse than summary (Score:2)
When this robot needs a hand, it borrows yours.
Oh yeah, that can't possibly go wrong. Nope, can't think how that might be a mistake.
Still, if the idea of a robot commandeering your limbs sounds a bit, uh, scary, you're not alone. The audience at the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), where the researchers presented their results in September, let out a nervous gasp upon seeing the video of the experiment:
Yeah, I think a nervous gasp might be in order here.
Re:Article is worse than summary (Score:5, Funny)
There's nothing to be nervous about, the system has a safety switch. Whenever you feel that the robot might have gone out of control, you just put your hand on the switch and press...oh, wait.
Cool, until.. (Score:5, Funny)
"Query: Why are you assaulting yourself?"
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Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
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Yeah, so? (Score:1)
Re:Yeah, so? (Score:5, Informative)
The problem with that first design is that really just turned your muscles "on or off". No matter how slight the movement. Apparently it was extremely tiring to use even briefly.
This appears to have a subtle control that would allow a paraplegic to use a robo-leg controller all day without tiring any more than you or I.
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Just wait until they get to the point where they can use a dead cop named Murphy to provide some of the decision-making capabilities for the robot.
Ob Post (Score:2)
I for one welcome our new Robotron Arm masters.
Back in the day, my younger brother was a serious contender for Most Obsessed With Playing Robotron: 2084. He suffered a repetitive stress injury from playing it he called "Robotron Arm"
Not the same thing, I know. But did hear bout this on the BBC and thought it was pretty amazing. It's only a matter of time before we turn such a gift into weapons. BattleTech here we come!
One step closer... (Score:2)
...to the "remote-controlled corpses" from GITS.
The puppet... (Score:1)
becomes the puppeteer.
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Pr0n opportunities (Score:4, Insightful)
Electrodes attached to the person's arm allow the robot to make the elbow and hand move to perform tasks.
Pr0n opportunities for cam-girls, I think.
Re:Pr0n opportunities (Score:4, Funny)
They call that move a "Reverse Waldo". It'll cost you.
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Pretty brave using a term that even the Urban Dictionary doesn't know about.
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command: Reach into back pocket of jeans
command: Open wallet and take out credit card
command: Enter credit card info to pay for premium account
Either that or it will be implemented in ChatRoulette. *shudders*
Maybe I missed the part.... (Score:3)
This appears to require a person with an arm that works; unless I misunderstand the electrodes are stimulating a developed (i.e. non-atrophied) arm with working nervous system. I would be curious to see this trick work on a limb that was truly disabled.....
very cool none the less.
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To disable an arm, you cut the nerves somewhere before they get to the arm. Like in the spine.
The arm will work if you bypass the cut.
Atrophy is just a decrease in mass of the parts. A course of therapy and exercise with this thing, and it would build back up again.
I can see (Score:1)
Can this robot do my workout for me? (Score:1)
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You know your muscles are still going to hurt just as much as if you were making them move by yourself, right? Unless you sever the nerve connections, which given your attitude, I can't entirely rule out.
With the right feedback sensors in place, the system could perform the exercises with greater precision/effectiveness than you could do while distracted (say, watching TV) so it could prove to be a benefit to those that want to exercise but would prefer not to have to concern themselves with the intricate details of what the most effective routine is.
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The issue isn't the muscle ache. That kind of feels good in a way.
The issue is the utter sheer fucking tedium of lifting your arm, dropping it again, lifting it, dropping it, lifting it, droppi.. oh for fucks sake, can I go and do something interesting instead please?
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Perhaps, but that doesn't mean you won't feel just as strained and exhausted.
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There is a short story that does actually discus that particular use of technology.
Here is the chapter dealing with the Vertebrane system and it's uses.
http://marshallbrain.com/manna6.htm [marshallbrain.com]
All jokes aside... (Score:5, Funny)
All jokes aside this is fantastic news.
Now when a robot loses an arm in an automobile accident they'll be able to replace it with a human arm.
Brain the size of a planet... (Score:1)
Dr Strangelove? (Score:2)
Dr. Strangelove is strangely excited about this tecnhology.
Get the fuck up NOW! (Score:2)
If you're wearing your Robo Attachments, it can detect the alarm, and immediately start moving you towards the suit loc
Oblig Zac and Miri - (Score:1)
This is great news (Score:3)
This is great news for any paraplegic robots.
Yin and Yang (Score:3)
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hope for the future (Score:3)
Someday this research will be invaluable in restoring mobility to robots that have suffered serious damage or manufacturing defect, enabling their broken limbs to be replaced by (admittedly inferior) limbs harvested from humans.
Stranger tonight (Score:1)
100 Years from Now; (Score:1)
A helping hand (Score:2)
'The Electroslave Device' (Score:2)
Scientist: "Kroll, attach the electro-slave device to this fool!"
Victim: "No, no, anything but that!"
Kroll: "Yes, Master!"
Scientist: "Now, dance for me my puppet! Dance!"
Victim dances....
=====
Oh, sorry, I was just daydreaming there for a moment....
Remote Surgey? (Score:1)