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Man Controls Cybernetic Hand With Thoughts

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-thought-john-connor-destroyed-that-thing dept.

MaryBethP writes "Scientists in Italy announced Wednesday that Pierpaolo Petruzziello, a 26-year-old Italian who had lost his left forearm in a car accident, was successfully linked to an artificial limb that was controlled by electrodes implanted in his arm and connected to the median and ulnar nerves. He has learned to control the artificial limb with his mind. According to CNet, Petruzziello says he could feel sensations in it, as if the lost arm had grown back again. The BBC has a brief video showing the arm in operation."

81 comments

  1. woohoo by GarretSidzaka · · Score: 1

    bring on the cyborgs!!!!

  2. Thank goodness by DrMrLordX · · Score: 3, Funny

    At least we now know the identity of Dr. Claw and why he was able to leave his arm with a bomb in an armchair like in the intro. But will Gadget ever figure it out? Probably not.

    1. Re:Thank goodness by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 1

      But will Gadget ever figure it out? Probably not.

      I doubt he will, because Dr. Claw will get him next time. Next time.

  3. That second link by Vyse+of+Arcadia · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Scientists go out on limb and declare robot hand a success"

    C'mon, that's terrible even by my standards!

    1. Re:That second link by benjamindees · · Score: 5, Funny

      You have to hand it to them though, I think they really pulled it off!

      --
      "I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
    2. Re:That second link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh give 'em a hand, I applaud their efforts - and now, so can he.

    3. Re:That second link by jegerjensen · · Score: 1

      No, you misunderstand. They ATTACHED it!

    4. Re:That second link by Tacvek · · Score: 1

      Despite your intended humor, the video makes it look like they have not actually attached it. Which does not seem like that big a surprises to me, since this limb would be so much heaver than a real hand that they would need to equip what remains of his arm with a bio-assist sleeve to allow him to use it in a way that resembles normal. Plus in order to be able to use this new arm for any signficiant portion of time, he would need to carry around an ungodly amount of additional weight in batteries.

      I mean think about how much we complain about battery life in laptops which are mostly solid state. Now image how quickly laptop sized batteries would run out if powering an arm. Imagine just how many batteries you would need to get reasonable battery life in a robotic arm.

      --
      Stylish sheet to fix many problems in Slashdot's D3: https://gist.github.com/801524
    5. Re:That second link by jegerjensen · · Score: 1

      Good point about the batteries. If I was in charge of this research project, we would develop a fuel cell to generate electricity directly from ATP. Just route some blood through it. Now THAT would be awesome.

  4. Yes, yes, yes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    YES. EXCEPT THAT IS NOT THE HAND SKYWALKER LOST. EITHER OF THEM.

    So anyhow, sweet. Amazed at the sensations part just as much if not more than the mental control. How sure can we be it's not just something like phantom limb syndrome? I assume they've done the whole behind a curtain "am I touching your hand" type dealie?

    1. Re:Yes, yes, yes! by 19thNervousBreakdown · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Well, they didn't give us any information about tha, nor whether or not there is a feedback system, but let's consider the feasibility: I'm no EE, but wouldn't there be some sort of change in resistance or ... something ... as the motors experienced load? I'm not sure the signal would transmit through relays or whatever they're using, but short of a specifically designed feedback system, is it possible, or likely? The nervous system operates on very low power, I know that much, so is there any sort of signal it could get and potentially interpret?

      --
      <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
    2. Re:Yes, yes, yes! by denmarkw00t · · Score: 1

      The nervous system operates on very low power, I know that much, so is there any sort of signal it could get and potentially interpret?

      Why yes, as you stated (and as I believe because a) I'm lazy and b) I couldn't imagine the nervous system using any sort of "high" voltage signal)))/*Close those parens!*/ I would think that a feedback system wouldn't be hard to develop, at least on the hardware side. Making something that can be affected by resistance - say, a hand touching the fake arm - shouldn't be difficult at all. While not entirely familiar with the technologies, something akin to touchscreen tech, the holographic stickers on old old old school Transformers toys, etc should be easily measurable.

      The real problem, imho aianadosoee (and I am not a doctor or scientist or electrical engineer, of course), would be software. Err wetware. Err brainware. Whathaveyou, the point I'm trying to make is that measuring "touch" or sensations on an artificial limb is likely the easy part, the hard part is figuring out where to send the signal. As much as we know about the brain and the nervous system, we really don't seem to know much, but even so I don't see why the wiring couldn't be connected to the nearest nerve endings, perhaps through some sort of dongle? Sure, position tracking and sensitivity would be issues, but nothing some testing couldn't fix.

    3. Re:Yes, yes, yes! by MrNaz · · Score: 1

      Anyone smart enough to decipher that post would not only know that, but also the answer to life, the universe and everything.

      --
      I hate printers.
    4. Re:Yes, yes, yes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can decipher it! And the answer is 42. I thought Slashdotters were... actually, I'm not going to finish that sentence.

    5. Re:Yes, yes, yes! by martas · · Score: 1

      I think the standard way for evaluating the feedback is the "are you touching yourself" test.

      --
      weinersmith
    6. Re:Yes, yes, yes! by Idiomatick · · Score: 1

      "the hard part is figuring out where to send the signal"

      Send them pretty much anywhere. The brain is very adaptive. Given a few months of use the guy will learn what the different feeelings correspond to. From their his brain will automatically map said feelings. It will quickly become unnoticable. Perhaps slightly different but for the individual they would not care.

      I'm basing this off of many experiments, for example people being given vision through sensations in their tongue... The brain figures out what to do with the raw data quick enough.

  5. Finally by rmushkatblat · · Score: 1

    Now I can shed this nasty, degrading shell.

    1. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish to purchase your shell, meatbag.

    2. Re:Finally by Erikderzweite · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is no replacement for brain yet, so your eternal mechanical life will eventually turn into an eternal Alzheimer's.

    3. Re:Finally by Nathrael · · Score: 1

      That, and replacing a hand is one thing - replacing your entire body sans brain is another.

      --
      A good education is a bit like a STD - it makes you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and gives you a desire to spread it.
    4. Re:Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh I'm sure it'll be fine. If Alzheimer's patients are good for anything it's for collecting old age pension so they can keep buying stuff (even if it's the same stuff over and over) and thus paying taxes. Think of the economy man!!!

  6. Not there yet by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Looking at the video and articles it seems they haven't integrated the whole thing into an artificial hand attached to his arm. The hand he controls is shown separately from his body. Perhaps the unit is too heavy at the moment.

    So Ratz can't have his russian military seven function force feedback manipulator just yet.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
    1. Re:Not there yet by CookedGryphon · · Score: 1

      Or maybe they're keeping it at a distance and hoping nobody notices that they made him another right hand by accident.

    2. Re:Not there yet by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      I think the hand came before the patient.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    3. Re:Not there yet by CookedGryphon · · Score: 1

      Damn, a reasonable explanation. That's not nearly so amusing.

    4. Re:Not there yet by Paua+Fritter · · Score: 1

      OT but re your sig which asks why linux.conf.au is actually in nz? Well, according to the website:

      Wellington will charm you the moment you set eyes on it. A large part of the city's appeal stems from its natural setting: rugged hills rise above a busy harbour, buildings perch on hillsides, streets wind their way around the coast and into hidden valleys.

      It's a compact city - the concentrated mix of business, the arts, sports, entertainment and café society add to Wellington's vibrancy and appeal.

      What better environment in which to hold Linux.conf.au?

      So I hope that's cleared it up for you: in short, it's because they have good coffee in Wellington.
      Are you going? Don't miss the little blue penguins, if you do.

    5. Re:Not there yet by Jartan · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sounds like the purpose of the test was to test the actual electrode interface and how complex the hand motions could get with it. The duration the electrodes stayed in his arm is the important part. With this test it seems complex cybernetic limbs are basically a done deal. The question is whether or not they can actually hook them up long term without serious rejection problems.

    6. Re:Not there yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps the unit is too heavy at the moment.

      The arm in the picture is 2 Kg... A much lighter one is being developed (and it's in an advanced stage of development)

    7. Re:Not there yet by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      Sounds like the purpose of the test was to test the actual electrode interface and how complex the hand motions could get with it. The duration the electrodes stayed in his arm is the important part. With this test it seems complex cybernetic limbs are basically a done deal. The question is whether or not they can actually hook them up long term without serious rejection problems.

      Makes me wonder if you could build an implanted sensor more like a cochlear implant. No direct electrical connection with the outside. Data and power are transferred both ways by induction.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    8. Re:Not there yet by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      I doubt it. I live in Melbourne. I was actually in Hobart at the same time as the last one. There were lots of Linux people on the ferry going over. I didn't attend because I was on holiday with my son. I will wait for it to come back to Melbourne and try to con my employer into sending me.

      I am sure Wellington is a nice place for a conference but it should be called linux.conf.nz.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    9. Re:Not there yet by Paua+Fritter · · Score: 1

      I live in Melbourne too! I don't see why an Aussie conference can't be held in Aotearoa though? It's not like it's a long way ... closer than Perth I think. What confused me was the name of the conference: I first thought it was a domain name, but of course it's not. :-)

  7. This raises important questions... by monkeySauce · · Score: 4, Funny

    Like, will it still count as masturbation if he uses the cybernetic hand?

    And, can they give you control without feeling sensation? Because that would totally feel like somebody else's hand...

    1. Re:This raises important questions... by TooMuchToDo · · Score: 2, Informative
      "The Stranger"?

      http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=The+Stranger

    2. Re:This raises important questions... by VanGarrett · · Score: 3, Informative

      No, he still gets sensation. That's actually a technology that's been around for a couple of years, now. The nerves that used to go to the tips of the fingers are surgically relocated to convenient locations where the prosthetic will be mounted, and appropriate sensory devices are built into the fingers, which in turn, relay that sensory data back to the appropriate nerve endings. The net result is that the person wearing the arm gets the distinct tactile sensations from his missing limb, via the artificial limb.

      One of the things I find interesting about modern prosthetic limbs, is that the advanced models can actually have the ability to react to nerve impulses faster than the user's real muscles.

      --
      Learning about brewing beer, by brewing beer.
    3. Re:This raises important questions... by ihatewinXP · · Score: 1

      Im still waiting for the scientific community weigh in on whether bonking your own clone is considered as such as well.

      Ahh what an age of wizardry we live in!

      --
      ---- The real Slashdot is still here. You just have to browse at -1 to read the comments.
    4. Re:This raises important questions... by Solandri · · Score: 2, Funny

      And, can they give you control without feeling sensation? Because that would totally feel like somebody else's hand...

      Heck, go whole hog. Have two amputees chatting with each other via webcams connect to each other's artificial arm over the Internet. Cybersex will never be the same.

    5. Re:This raises important questions... by srothroc · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Without sensation? Seems dangerous. What if you squeeze too hard? Pull too hard?

      --
      http://www.tenjou.net/
    6. Re:This raises important questions... by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      Two or more amputees in an online masturbation ring?

      I've just had a really neat idea for a porno site!

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    7. Re:This raises important questions... by Dekker3D · · Score: 3, Funny

      ah, they can rebuild it. they have the technology! in other news: OUCH!

    8. Re:This raises important questions... by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 1

      Like, will it still count as masturbation if he uses the cybernetic hand?

      Yes, but he will have the option of also calling it "cybersex".

    9. Re:This raises important questions... by RealGrouchy · · Score: 1

      Without sensation? Seems dangerous. What if you squeeze too hard? Pull too hard?

      Unless he also has a cybernetic wang, there would still be sensation where it counts.

      - RG>

      --
      Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
    10. Re:This raises important questions... by couchslug · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If there is a voice-controlled version, under no circumstances say "Jerk it off!".

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  8. The better for obscene gesturing? by NAR8789 · · Score: 1

    Not to diminish the achievement, but haven't they built him a redundant right hand?

  9. A Start by BrightSpark · · Score: 1

    I know the rest of you will post the childish big put downs, like the fact you have to carry a laboratory everywhere with you, or wait for the first legal case over accidental removal of testes at the toilet or the wife jokes of "at last he can help with the washing up" so I will post the sobering comments that we all have to start somewhere .. and get 3 good punches in at the same time :-)

  10. Optional extras by Geminii · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Could be interesting to outfit it with PDA/smartphone/net capabilities linked to a couple of extra feedback wires. You'd be able to develop electronic senses such as orientation, absolute location, driving directions to a destination, knowing when someone had sent you an email, and the direction and distance of practically anything with a Whitepages/Yellowpages entry.

    For bonus points, equip your car with a GPS+intertial tracker and cellphone, and you'll be able to find it anywhere on the planet to within a couple of dozen feet. Add in a radio transmitter which can pick up and replicate signals from things like car keys, and you'll be able to find it within that dozen feet, too.

    I'm thinking - what about being able to put the hand into virtual mode, so that wrist and finger gestures aren't expressed by the mechanical hardware but are instead used as input to an interface linked to a bunch of macros for the electronics? Add an IR transmitter/recorder, point at the TV, go virtual, and sign the macro for switching on, calling up your favorite channel, and turning up the volume. Or with an IRDA channel, be able to send macro signals to your PC to do whatever you want. Heck, go the whole hog and install WiFi, Bluetooth, a USB port, an acoustic coupler... you'd have the most connected hand on the planet!

    1. Re:Optional extras by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Someone chop my arm off. I've got to have one of these things!

    2. Re:Optional extras by martas · · Score: 1

      you mean http://xkcd.com/644/ ?

      --
      weinersmith
    3. Re:Optional extras by Dekker3D · · Score: 2, Insightful

      well, a simple compass would be easy: you just wire the feedback to the nerve to how close you point your arm to the north. eventually, you'll be able to feel the other directions simply by familiarity with those specific amounts of feeling.

    4. Re:Optional extras by unus.sapiens · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you start adding lots of functionality you would have to get some serious security, otherwise you might find that people start controlling your hand, or giving you bursts of pain.

      --
      unussapiens
    5. Re:Optional extras by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      well, a simple compass would be easy: you just wire the feedback to the nerve to how close you point your arm to the north.

      [SIGH] A compass points to the local magnetic north (or south), not to "north" in any other sense.
      OK, it may seem trivial to some people, but there's about 5 degrees difference here, and 7 degrees of difference at my last work site. And that site, the magnetic variation changed by nearly 3 degrees across the site, due to the presence of magnetic rock intrusions nearby which hardened under a different magnetic field orientation and remember that orientation.
      "Simply" and "magnetic compass" do not go together except for the crudest of applications. A 7 degree steering error from the summit of Ben Nevis, for example, would put you either freefalling down Tower Gully or avalanching down Five-Finger Gully, depending on which way you made the error.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    6. Re:Optional extras by Dekker3D · · Score: 1

      i wasn't about the compass being simple, but the implementation. the compass could be gps-driven for all i care. besides, you don't want to rely on something like this for precision jobs unless you can somehow get the data digitally instead of the analogue way i described.

  11. As opposed to.. by billsayswow · · Score: 0

    As opposed to just using a computer: Man Controls Cybernetic 'Thoughts' With Hand.

  12. God moved the hand by Admiral+Ag · · Score: 2, Funny

    More proof that God synchronizes mental and physical events. Substance dualists rejoice! ;)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occasionalism

    --
    "by that I mean people who don't sit on slashdot all day wondering why everyone else isn't building robots" DECS
    1. Re:God moved the hand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      drunken fencers?

  13. Why start there? by Rollgunner · · Score: 1

    What's to say that you need to lose a hand in order to have this system implanted?

    Imagine the remote control possibilities: Tele-Surgery and both Macro and Micro Waldoes in general (ever wondered what that water molecule "feels" like ?).

    1. Re:Why start there? by chadenright · · Score: 1

      Mandatory XKCD: http://xkcd.com/644/

  14. Fear leads to anger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So how long before he turns evil starts listening to a crazy old man and kills Natalie Portman?

  15. Re:I just want Slashdot to know by VanGarrett · · Score: 1

    Ah, but is it a break-through in the field of prosthetics?

    --
    Learning about brewing beer, by brewing beer.
  16. cnet is the worst journal we can get by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    During the LifeHand trial, which lasted a month, Petruzziello, 26, was able to experience sensations when grasping, making a fist, and apparently flipping the bird. No really. (There's nothing science can't do.)

    WTF?

  17. I for one.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    .. no, I am not going to make that joke :)

  18. it doesn't count as masturbation BUT by commodoresloat · · Score: 1

    scientists have found that the palms get hairy after you do it a while.

  19. Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember when I as kid watched Star wars and was amazed how luke could move his cyber hand after operation. It felt so unrealistic and incredible. This has now happend totally weird when I think back.

  20. Re:http://www.trollaxor.com/2009/11/linux-2012-rea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL

  21. Two right hands? by Cinnamon+Whirl · · Score: 1

    From the BBC video, it looks like he is controlling a right hand, but it appears that his left arm is the one he lost.
    I wonder if this makes it harder to control (like his hand is back to front), and whether he will have trouble adjusting to a prosthetic left arm later on.

    1. Re:Two right hands? by jegerjensen · · Score: 1

      It appears that he controls it without watching... So my guess is that he is in fact imagining left hand movements. After all that is what his neural system is trained to do. In order to get it right later they just need to wire him up correctly.

  22. Now, the ultimate test! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Arm, pick up the ball! (Red Dwarf)

  23. Interesting by jerven · · Score: 1

    When they do this with feets, they have come fare

  24. so is it his hand now? by chichilalescu · · Score: 1

    I mean... if someone were to destroy this hand for some reason, would they be sued for damaging his personal property, or for bodily harm?
    Seriously.
    And what then of the destruction of a "personal" computer, cell phone and/or other gadget (which some can argue are more useful than 1 hand or 1 foot)?

    --
    new sig
  25. Scary headlines... by Genda · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm still waiting for the newspaper headlines reporting a nose-picking fatality caused by a short in the sensing circuits!!!

    1. Re:Scary headlines... by Sulphur · · Score: 1

      That or something like the tragic death of Captain Hook.

  26. What happens when the patient thinks "wank?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    N/T

  27. Re:I just want Slashdot to know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    pic or it didnt happen

  28. Looks like snows of yesteryear by schreiend · · Score: 1

    after Dean Kamen's "Luke Arm" project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0_mLumx-6Y

  29. Translation to english for non stupid speakers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People smart enough to hook up a robotic arm to a person, and the person can grip a bottle with robotic fingers, are smart enough to know that.

  30. Ah, Europe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where the Italian guy is found speaking Portuguese in a British channel.

    1. Re:Ah, Europe by keeboo · · Score: 1

      Where the Italian guy is found speaking Portuguese in a British channel.

      Native-like Brazilian Portuguese, to be more precise.

      From this article (in portuguese language) it seems that he was born in Brazil (he has dual italian-brazilian citizenship) and his family strongly kept their italian identity. Also, he is a public servant in Curitiba.

  31. Performance enhancement? by dzr0001 · · Score: 1

    Should the governing bodies of modern sports begin regulating performance enhancing prosthetics? Imagine what this guy could do in a robot dance-off.