Brain Controlled Robotic Arm Helps Paralyzed Persons to Regain the Sensation of Feelings
Hands are so important to do many things and we use them almost in everything. Through them we can feel other people touch. Imagine you lose that sensation after a car accident, Bad feelings isn’t? No one would love to lose the sensation of touch. Unfortunately, this happens to too many people especially in car accidents.
Nathan Copeland is one of them, He was injured in a car accident 10 years ago by which he lost the ability of feeling his arms and fingers. His life changed upside down. Fortunately, for the first time ever and thanks to science, Nathan and after a brain surgery in which a Brain computer Interface (BCI) was connected to His brain, He is now able to feel the sensation of touching things through a robotic arm that he controls by his brain.
mind controlled robotic arm is developed by Researchers and Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School of the health Science and UPMC.
What makes it different from other mind-controlled robotics arms is its ability to allow its user to feel sensations and helps them to differentiate objects by touching, while other robotics arm don’t; They function as human-like arms, they help you to eat, prepare food and interact with people besides doing other things related to human needs but without feeling anything — Gif example.
The team leader Robert Gaunt argues, this artificial arm can controlled by the brain and it is considered as the first robotic arm that allow patient as Nathan to regain the sensation of touch again.
After connecting the system to Nathan’s brain, he claimed”I can feel just about every finger, it’s a really weird sensation. Sometimes it feels electrical and sometimes its pressure, but for the most part, I can tell most of the fingers with definite precision. It feels like my fingers are getting touched or pushed.”
Dr. Tyler-Kabara explains, At this time, Mr. Copeland can feel pressure and distinguish its intensity to some extent, though he cannot identify whether a substance is hot or cold.
Robert Gaunt aim is to develop a brain controlled robotic arm that can function just like a natural arm. He says, “We have a long way to go to get there, but this is a great start.”