19 year old builds robotic arm, thought controlled, released publicly in 3D printing

MiS · 02-13-2015, 07:12 AM

Garbimba Wrote:A 19 year old recent high school graduate who built a $350 robotic arm controlled with thoughts is showing any one how to build it free. His goal is to let anybody who is missing an arm use the robotic arm at a vastly cheaper cost than a prosthetic limb that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

When he was 14, Easton LaChappelle built a robotic hand controlled by a wireless control glove. He used LEGOs to back the device, motors from toy airplanes, fishing line for the tendons, and electrical tubing for the fingers.

Source (contains instructions on how to build it): http://garbimba.com/2015/02/19-year-old-...d-it-free/

The article later goes on to describe how the parts can be made using 3D printing, and the latest model can be controlled with human thoughts. I had chills when the man tested out the hand itself using his thoughts to pick up the light bulb - and it worked! What are your thoughts? Do you think he'll revolutionize, change, or destroy prosthetic companies with the release of his coding, software and designs for 3D printing this robotic arm?

roger_smith · 02-13-2015, 07:50 AM

An amazing example of the greatness that is Open Source. He may well change the world with the release of his code and plans. This was great, thx @mis

Dismas · 02-13-2015, 01:05 PM

Just wait. Soon they'll have upgrades and people will discard their real arms for them.

Eclipse · 02-13-2015, 01:09 PM

(02-13-2015, 01:05 PM)Oni Wrote: Just wait. Soon they'll have upgrades and people will discard their real arms for them.

What would be the point? Our native limbs are much better than any mechanical equivalent.

EDIT: Super strength... Hmm.

EDIT2: No, that wouldn't work. Never mind.

Dismas · 02-13-2015, 02:31 PM

(02-13-2015, 01:09 PM)Eclipse Wrote: What would be the point? Our native limbs are much better than any mechanical equivalent.

EDIT: Super strength... Hmm.

EDIT2: No, that wouldn't work. Never mind.

Super strength, durability... The list is endless and very possible.

cr33pyguy · 02-13-2015, 06:05 PM

(02-13-2015, 01:09 PM)Eclipse Wrote: What would be the point? Our native limbs are much better than any mechanical equivalent.

EDIT: Super strength... Hmm.

EDIT2: No, that wouldn't work. Never mind.

Tools for fingers, the possibilities are endless.

Eclipse · 02-13-2015, 06:14 PM

(02-13-2015, 02:31 PM)Oni Wrote: Super strength, durability... The list is endless and very possible.

Super strength would require a stronger spine, or maybe an exo-skeleton. Durability, okay... But there are drawbacks. One being agility and another: the ability to feel.

(02-13-2015, 06:05 PM)cr33pyguy Wrote: Tools for fingers, the possibilities are endless.

It comes with its own problems.

. . · 02-24-2015, 09:37 PM

Crazy what's being made, will science go too far?

Satan · 02-25-2015, 07:46 PM

(02-24-2015, 09:37 PM). . Wrote: Crazy what's being made, will science go too far?

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