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Ants Used For Mind-Controlled Robotic Limbs

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-can't-feel-my-arms dept.

mr sanjeev writes "Australian researchers are reducing the divide between science fiction and science reality by bringing the development of mind-controlled robotic limbs a few steps closer. Even the most fertile science fiction imagination might not see a link between the behavior of ant colonies and the development of lifelike robotic limbs, but that is the straightforward mathematical reality of research underway at the University of Technology, Sydney. The technology mimics the myoelectric signals used by the central nervous system (CNS) to control muscle activity. Artificial intelligence researchers have long used the complex interactions between ants to construct a pattern recognition formula to identify bioelectric signals. PhD student Rami Khushaba said 'swarm-intelligence' allows scientists to understand the body's electrical signals and use the knowledge to create a robotic prosthetic device that can be operated by human thought."

12 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. I for one... by BattleApple · · Score: 5, Funny

    found this article very interesting

    1. Re:I for one... by TheLink · · Score: 2, Funny

      Esp this part:

      "You get signals from each censor mounted on the forearm"

      The censorship level in Australia is higher than I thought :).

      --
  2. Okay, be honest... by Gideon+Wells · · Score: 5, Funny

    Be honest, raise your hand if the first thing you thought of when seeing that title was:

    +++ Divide By Cucumber Error. Please Reinstall Universe And Reboot +++

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    by Anonymous Coward: I, for one, welcome the shift from car analogies to pizza analogies. um.. overlords?
    1. Re:Okay, be honest... by chaim79 · · Score: 4, Funny

      actually I was thinking:

      Out of Cheese Error. Redo From Start

      --
      DEMETRIUS: Villain, what hast thou done?
      AARON: Villain, I have done thy mother.
      Shakespeare invents 'your mom'
  3. Oh, so by blue+l0g1c · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yet another research project that needs fine ants.

  4. The potential is staggering by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now you can have a robotic limb on top of every anthill. The ants will no longer have to carry measly pieces of grains or berries back to the hill - they can work in concert and use the mighty grasp of a robotic arm. How will you compete in this brave new world, mankind?

  5. I like this idea by Technopaladin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hope they use Army ants or Fire ants. Robots that destroy everyting in their path or squirt acid cocktails would freaking rock. THe first 2 prosthetics available sould be Mandibles and stingers. then they can branch out into other insectoid robot prosthetics like Pinchers, Scorpion tails and wings. I forsee a bold new future.

    1. Re:I like this idea by Facetious · · Score: 3, Funny

      My friend, you need professional help.

      --
      Let us not become the evil that we deplore.
    2. Re:I like this idea by EdZ · · Score: 2, Funny

      Of course not! It doesn't even take a professional entomologist to know that Scorpions aren't insects!

  6. Paging Dr. Pym.... by Churla · · Score: 4, Funny

    Question is who will be the first to reverse engineer their prosthetic arm to control ants instead?

    --
    I'm a fiscal conservative, it's a pity we don't have a political party anymore
  7. Is this why... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... if your foot falls asleep, it feels like there's ants running around on it?

  8. Re:we're making progress by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder what it would take for an artificial hand to be good enough to play piano, type on a keyboard

    Or, masturbate.

    Come on, we're all thinking it. ;-)

    Cheers

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.