Robotic arm controlled by thoughts

Lost a limb? Don't despair, help is on the way! Scientists are working on a project to create a robotic prosthesis to replace a missing hand. Okay, that’s not new. What is new, is that the robotic hand can be controlled through thoughts! The device is called LifeHand and is the result of a €2 million, five year project funded by the European Union. In 2009, it was successfully tested on Pierpaolo Petruzziello, an Italian who lost his left arm in a car crash. Through the implantation of four electrodes into the nervous system of his arm, he was able to control the hand with his mind and to achieve complex movements. He could for example make a fist, grab objects and make rude gestures. That sounds great, but we’re not there yet. The experiment only lasted a month and scientists still have to find out a way to attach the prosthesis to the arm permanently. Nonetheless, it’s already an important step forward in helping people with a disability, wouldn’t you say?

If you want to find out more about the project, check the video below!

Annelien Liessens