Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

MIT Working On Robotic Limbs That Attach To Shoulders, Waist

Posted by Soulskill on from the i'll-order-a-dozen dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes: 'Following up on news that ActiveLink is building heavy-duty exoskeletons for work in nuclear plants, IEEE Spectrum reports that MIT researchers are experimenting with Supernumerary Robotic Limbs (SRLs) that attach to either the shoulder or waist. The SRLs are capable of lifting objects and bracing against solid surfaces. From the article: "The SRL watches what you're doing with your arms to decide how to move. It does that by monitoring two inertial measurement units (IMUs) that the user wears on the wrists. A third IMU sits at the base of the robot's shoulder mount, to track the overall orientation and motion of the SRL." In the future, we will all have the ability to become Doctor Octopus (minus two robo-limbs, of course).'

12 comments

  1. Only two hands by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 1

    So the complaint "geeze I only have two hands" isn't going to work any more.

    Geeze.

    1. Re:Only two hands by The123king · · Score: 1

      I could never use that complaint anyway :P

      --
      If you gave me a choice between a printer and a giraffe with explosive diarrhoea, i'll get my ladder and my raincoat
    2. Re:Only two hands by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      So which are you, motie or flid?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  2. What could possibly go wrong? by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by flyneye · · Score: 1

      Did someone say SRL? http://www.srl.org/
      I figured they might have something to do with this.

      --
      *Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
  3. Doc Oc? by RealGene · · Score: 1

    Can they light a cigar?

    --
    Mission: To provide products that consume time and energy as entertainingly as permitted by the laws of thermodynamics.
  4. only two hands? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can think of a use for one at my waist!

  5. looks pretty useless by issicus · · Score: 1

    unless you're at comic con. I think they need to put cameras on the hands and connect them to google glasses , it would make a better youtube video.

  6. What could possibly go wrong? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No worries the Leg lab at MIT never produced a leg!So, the chances of success with arms are most likely just as low!

  7. Prior art by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

    It's been done before.

  8. Redundant Refernce by WarJolt · · Score: 1

    Yeah we know....Did you even read the summary?

  9. Won't fall over easily by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    > attach to either the shoulder

    Ahhh...third arm!

    > or the waist

    Ahhhh, third leg! Ahem.

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.