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Rocket-Powered Bionic Arm Successfully Tested

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the inflation-hits-the-6-million-dollar-man dept.

amigoro writes "A rocket-powered bionic arm has been successfully developed and tested by a team of mechanical engineers at Vanderbilt University as part of a $30 million military program to develop advanced prosthetic devices for next generation of super-soldiers."

16 of 159 comments (clear)

  1. Rocket-Propelled Bionic Arm by Eponymous+Bastard · · Score: 5, Funny

    I first read that as Rocket-Propelled Bionic Arm and thought, what's this? Mazinger Z?

    Then I read it again and, it's not much better. Off to RTFA...

  2. I don't know what the rocket adds... by akpoff · · Score: 5, Funny

    but I'm sure I want one.

    1. Re:I don't know what the rocket adds... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny
      but I'm sure I want one.

      Surely you didn't read that in a "power enhancement" spam, did you?

      ROCKET PROPEL YOUR MANHOOD WITH BIONIC IMPLANT - As seen on TV!


    2. Re:I don't know what the rocket adds... by Xiph · · Score: 5, Informative

      then take a look at it at the original story It's actually a solid state hydrogen peroxide H2O2, it is the steam that drives powers the mechanics.
      I guess it could be considered rocketry in that it's solid to gas transition. Also, it's what the astronauts use in spacewalk jetpacks

      --
      Blah blah sig blah blah blah irony blah blah
  3. I was part of the beta testing group for this arm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I used it to give myself a dutch rudder, and it was pretty good

  4. Super Soldiers by batquux · · Score: 5, Funny
    FTA:

    a miniature rocket motor can lift (curl) about 20 to 25 pounds Wow, they'd almost be able to carry a weapon.
  5. How steampunk by The-Bus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Goldfarb's power source is about the size of a pencil and contains a special catalyst that causes hydrogen peroxide to burn produce pure steam which is used to open and close a series of valves.

    The valves are connected to the spring-loaded joints by belts made of a special monofilament used in appliance handles and aircraft parts and a small sealed canister of hydrogen peroxide that easily fits in the upper arm can provide enough energy to power the device for 18 hours of normal activity. Does it make a choo-chooo sound when you're punching anyone?
    --

    Small potatoes make the steak look bigger.

  6. Try "rocket *fuel* powered"... by vanyel · · Score: 4, Informative

    There's no rockets involved, it's actually steam powered, fueled by rocket fuel (hydrogen peroxide).

    1. Re:Try "rocket *fuel* powered"... by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Informative

      Picture:
      http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/resources/bi onicarm_CAD-arm_800.jpg
      Caption:
      A solid model of the arm shows how it works. The propellant cartridge contains the pressurized monopropellant. The liquid is routed through two flexible lines (not shown) across the elbow join and into two catalyst packs: one for the elbow and one for the foream. The catalyst increases the effective volume of the propellant by 1000 times. The propellant does not flow continuously but is controlled and routed by the servo valves just downstream. By rotating to different positions, a servo valve routes the gas to one side or the other of a gas cylinder, pusing the piston up or down. The entire operation is computer controlled, based on force and motion feedback from the joints.

      Hydrogen peroxide + catalyst = hot gas (steam)
      Sounds to me like they're talking about a liquid fuel rocket motor.

      That pic + text was alongside the main article:
      http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/processor.ph p?action=get_section_text&id=1311&r=664693

      About halfway down they get into the details of how it works & why they call it a rocket motor. Towards the bottom you can read about the engineering challenges they faced.

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
  7. Not the best idea by fishthegeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    Giving a rocket powered bionic arm to a 19 year old soldier thousands of miles away from his girlfriend? This can only end in tragedy.

    --
    load "$",8,1
  8. Amazing Video by fractalVisionz · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check out the video on vandy's website. I love the last few seconds where the robotic are is about to cap someone!

  9. Re:Efficiency, not so much by georgewilliamherbert · · Score: 4, Informative

    The term you are looking for is "Gas Generator".

    Rocket is something that generates gas (usually by combustion or decomposition) and expels it through a nozzle for thrust.

    Gas generator is generic for a device which produces gas. A boiler is a special case (heat + water). There are gas generators in airbags (solid azide chemical reaction), other industrial uses too.

    This just uses decomposing hydrogen peroxide to generate steam. Just another gas generator.

  10. Or did you mean to welcome... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "... our new robot underarms?"

  11. Re:Disabled vets, anyone? by Garridan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No. The Pentagon doesn't give a shit about the vets. Don't you read the news?

  12. Re:Super? by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wars not make one great!

    But rocket-powered bionic arms do!

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  13. HEY! LOOK AT BENDER! I'M BEING ENTERTAINiNG! by Spokehedz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bite my shiny, rocket-powered, metal ass!

    Ha-hahahaha!