Inventor of Segway Dean Kamen Unveils New Invention

[Dark Donnie]

Dean Kamen showed some video of the impressive, mind-controlled prosthetic robot arm he's invented today at D6 in Carlsbad. Kamen has been showing the arm off since early 2007, usually via video clips like what he showed today. But today's demonstration at D6 was impressive enough that it's got the gadget blogs and the Twitterverse all aflutter today.

Deservedly so: Kamen's arm, dubbed "Luke" (after Skywalker, I assume), is an incredibly sophisticated bit of engineering that's lightyears ahead of the clamping "claws" that many amputees are forced to use today. The arm is fully articulated, giving the user the same degrees of movement as a natural arm, and is sensitive enough to pick up a piece of paper, a wineglass or even a grape without mishap.

D6 posted the video above, which contains highlights from Kamen's remarks and demonstrations of the arm itself.

Video through link:

Robot Arm

 

[Sensi]

Wow. It is mind controlled and has precise movement. When this is put into production, it will have an amazing impact on many people's lives.

 

[Dark Donnie]

The video is quite amazing...

 

[Obi-Ron]

A much better invention than that dorky segway. Stairs FTW!

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Yeah, at least this will be useful. Actually almost got run over by some Segways yesterday, four jackasses taking a tour of Chicago on a Segway not paying any attention to all the pedestrains on the street, passed by me with about an inch to spare.

 

[SFII]

that's so Jedi.

 

[Malice]

Wow! Nice!

 

[VanillaLando]

What do robot arms have to do with 'Subway?' Are they going to replace all the workers?

"You don't know the power of the Cold Cut Combo young Skywalker."

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Yeah, that's pretty unbelievable.

 

[turtlefocker]

Well, fancy that then.

 

[Mr. Credible]

damn... i might cut off my own arm, just so i can get one.

 

[Captain Planet!]

*cuts off arm*

 

[Speedin Bullet]

I'd like to have one with legs on it so IT can go to the fridge and get me a beer.

 

[Drakon]

Actually, Speedin' Bullet, that does bring up a point that'd be relevant to me. If we can do something so complex as an arm with a working, delicate hand, then I can only hope and pray that a leg, which should be much simpler, should be right around the bend. It'd be nice to upgrade to that.

[For those of you still not in the know, I'm missing my right leg since birth]

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Actually, Speedin' Bullet, that does bring up a point that'd be relevant to me. If we can do something so complex as an arm with a working, delicate hand, then I can only hope and pray that a leg, which should be much simpler, should be right around the bend. It'd be nice to upgrade to that.

[For those of you still not in the know, I'm missing my right leg since birth]

A leg should be so much simpler.

 

[Corey]

A leg should be so much simpler.

Very cool.

 

[The Geek Vault]

That's really great

 

[SFII]

Actually, Speedin' Bullet, that does bring up a point that'd be relevant to me. If we can do something so complex as an arm with a working, delicate hand, then I can only hope and pray that a leg, which should be much simpler, should be right around the bend. It'd be nice to upgrade to that.

[For those of you still not in the know, I'm missing my right leg since birth]

that's what the Segway's for.
j/k
yeah, that sucks that you only have 1 leg, dude. i hope he does invent the robotic leg.

 

[Drakon]

that's what the Segway's for.
j/k
yeah, that sucks that you only have 1 leg, dude. i hope he does invent the robotic leg.

Doesn't bother me any, but that's a topic for another thread.

Yeah, I gotta say that this robotic arm thing is really a step ahead. I remember a time when people were talking about cloning for bodyparts and such.

 

[The Question]

Actually, Speedin' Bullet, that does bring up a point that'd be relevant to me. If we can do something so complex as an arm with a working, delicate hand, then I can only hope and pray that a leg, which should be much simpler, should be right around the bend. It'd be nice to upgrade to that.

[For those of you still not in the know, I'm missing my right leg since birth]

Well, they have been spending years studying how legs work in order to create a fully functioning robotic model for that ASIMO android over in Japan. Stands to reason that, since Kamen's already developed the thought control aspect, it should be the next logical step to combine the two technologies.

 

[Obi-Ron]

The future is now.

 

[SFII]

the whole "mind-control" thing is amazing. hopefully, soon they'll create things using that type of technology for us un-handicapped people.
Bill Gates needs to take it to the next level.

 

[Drakon]

Well, they have been spending years studying how legs work in order to create a fully functioning robotic model for that ASIMO android over in Japan. Stands to reason that, since Kamen's already developed the thought control aspect, it should be the next logical step to combine the two technologies.

I was just thinking that, actually. Get out of my head, Charles.

 

[Nathan]

Now this is sweet.

 

[Mike_D202]

He needs to get on those anti-gravity hoverboards and cars