Brain-linked prosthetic arm provides more accurate, more natural control

“Luke” is a prosthetic arm, activated by the nerves which previously activated the muscles of the severed limb. Advantages of this approach include reduced learning time for the prosthesis user & more natural control. Feedback sensors allow users to know how much force they are applying, so that both heavy & light weight, delicate objects can be handled.

Designed by Segway creator, Dean Kamen, with funding from US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Perhaps most important of all to amputees, it's scheduled to go on sale later this year.



The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/11/12147726/prosthetic-luke-arm-commercial-launch-2016

Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3692019/The-Force-strong-one-Luke-Skywalker-style-robot-arm-amputees-developed-military.html / DARPA-funded prosthetic arm go on sale later this year world most advanced prosthetics market later this year Luke arm designed Segway creator Dean Kamen funding from DARPA development received approval FDA prosthetic previously named the DEKA arm Luke Luke Skywalker's advanced prosthetic Star Wars headline feature control system prosthetic electrodes amputated limb electrical signals user's muscles user tenses flexes arm Luke changes position grip much more intuitive more basic prosthetics generally controlled switches or buttons adjusted manually by the wearer separate control system uses wireless sensors Luke more degrees of flexibility movement regular prosthetic shoulder elbow wrist individually powered four independent motors hand dexterity securely grip single egg force sensors fingers give the wearer feedback how hard they're gripping technology comes at a price creators of the Luke arm prosthetic cost tens of thousands of dollars experts industry price tag of $100,000 /