Bionic Arm Might Go Into Clinical Trials

prostoalex writes "The bionic arm project sponsored by DARPA is nearing completion, and might undergo clinical trials. 'The arm has motor control fine enough for test subjects to pluck chocolate-covered coffee beans one by one, pick up a power drill, unlock a door, and shake a hand. Six preconfigured grip settings make this possible, with names like chuck grip, key grip, and power grip. The different grips are shortcuts for the main operations humans perform daily.'"

don't forget the beta transmitter

[User 956]

The bionic arm project sponsored by DARPA is nearing completion, and might undergo clinical trials.

Great! Now we can rescue Super Joe!

IMPORTANT:

[Anonymous Coward]

can it be programmed for jacking off?

photo!!

[commodoresloat]

They have a photo of a politician using the arm available online here [gla.ac.uk].

Finally...

[neonmonk]

I'll be able to compose that Holophoner opera.

Good ...

[Sepiraph]

I always wanted to impress someone with a powerful handshake.

Re:Power grip

[Tablizer]

Does this mean that when an amputee receives one of these arms, he could do things that a normal human couldn't?

When somebody cuts me off in traffic, it would indeed be satisfying to give them a 2-foot-long birdy.
     

Kung fu grip

[wiredlogic]

What? No kung fu grip? What a gyp.

Re:That sound

[plover]

I wasn't thinking of the bionic sound, but rather that the recipient of the arm was going to have to agree to be filmed lifting heavy things in slow motion.

Re:Let's raise the question...

[frankmu]

you know, i was thinking while putting together the IKEA bunk bed for the kids... if i only had an extra pair of hands. now i can rent one! sorta like Kali

Re:Kung fu grip

[wiredlogic]

You've identified a significamt limitation in current electro-mechanicical prosthetics. I suggest you take out a patent on an 'apparatus for enabling gestural espression by amputees'.

Warning: Following answer applies to v3.0.

[Jesus_666]

> Well, you can. But remember that artificial arms start with a strength of 4 and already cost you one whole essence point. If you want to boost the strength past 7 you'll end up losing another 0.4 essence per strength point, not to mention the space high-level boosts take up.

If you ask me, you're much better off getting artificial muscles. They're one essnce per level, but the strength applies to your whole body and not to a single limb. Or, better yet, go with bioware and get your muscles enhanced. Sure, you're susceptible to stress-related issues, but you don't go blowing out essence points on chrome that won't help you anywhere but in arm wrestling competitions. Plus four points of strength via bioware cost 80.000 bucks, no more than the same in artificial muscles - the artificial arm comes at 110.000 vanilla and 50.000+ per strength upgrade. If you have a high base strength, you'd pay as much for an artificial arm that even matches your strength as for four levels of muscle enhancements and a pain editor. And the prothesis doesn't even help you deal with injuries

Oh, and stay the hell away from Aztech products. Worst drek on the market.
Peace out, chummer.
> Jesus_666