Michal Prywata & Thiago Caires with the AMO Arm
Canadian Ryerson University students have made an inexpensive, mind controlled, prosthetic arm geared towards amputees. Students Michal Prywata and Thiago Caires created what they call the AMO Arm, The Artificial Muscle-Operated Arm, using compressed air at the core of limb's actuation. The arms movement is powered by a small tank of compressed air worn separate. By doing this, the limb only costs a fraction of their electrical counterparts. The brain control of the limb comes in a non-intrusive headset the operator wears. This will save patients hundreds of thousands of dollar in operation costs compared to other limbs that wire to nervous systems. They claim, in a short amount of time and practice the wearer can move the limb as they wish.
Software to drive the prosthetic took approximately a year t develop, while the prototype of the actual are was constructed during a 72 hour design session. And the project won the 2011 Ryerson Engineering Competition, and went on to win many other prizes at other Canada based engineering events.
The team have started their own company, Bionik Laboratories Inc, and are seeking 3 patents. Ryerson's Digital Media Zone has also helped the fledgling company gain even further fame. And the team is continually improving the AMO Arms. The next step feedback of what the arm is touching to gauge pressure of holding, such as an egg vs. a brick.
Eavesdropper
pic via Ryerson U.