Duke monkey makes robot walk via brain signals

[DevilAlumna]

Okay, this is just amazing to me:


On Thursday, the 12-pound, 32-inch monkey made a 200-pound, 5-foot humanoid robot walk on a treadmill using only her brain activity.

She was in North Carolina, and the robot was in Japan.

It was the first time that brain signals had been used to make a robot walk, said Dr. Miguel A. L. Nicolelis, a neuroscientist at Duke University whose laboratory designed and carried out the experiment.


Full article here (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/16/healthscience/15robo.php).

[pamtar]

That is probably the coolest thing Ive ever seen.

There are SO many applications for technology like this that with proper funding it will end up changing the course of history.

Especially the aspect of 'recorded' neuron firings. It would definitely be possible to create robot intelligence based on such information. Instead of using written code, self-reliant robots could base their movements on actual human thought processes and neurological interface. This is really nuts people. I guarantee each of us will benefit greatly from this technology in our lifetimes.

Great post!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Okay, this is just amazing to me:
Full article here (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/16/healthscience/15robo.php).


Last year Duke develops an invisibility cloak, and now they demonstrate a brain machine. WOW!

[DukieInKansas]

Last year Duke develops an invisibility cloak, and now they demonstrate a brain machine. WOW!

Don't forget the beer dispensing mini fridge! :)

On a more serious note - what a great accomplishment.

[billybreen]

That is probably the coolest thing Ive ever seen.

There are SO many applications for technology like this that with proper funding it will end up changing the course of history.

Especially the aspect of 'recorded' neuron firings. It would definitely be possible to create robot intelligence based on such information. Instead of using written code, self-reliant robots could base their movements on actual human thought processes and neurological interface. This is really nuts people. I guarantee each of us will benefit greatly from this technology in our lifetimes.

Great post!

I'm on record as being first in line as soon BMI technology is ready for human use. Jack me in!

[pamtar]

I'm on record as being first in line as soon BMI technology is ready for human use. Jack me in!

"What is the Matrix?"

[DevilAlumna]

I'm on record as being first in line as soon BMI technology is ready for human use. Jack me in!

Have you gotten your RFID chip implanted yet?

[billybreen]

Have you gotten your RFID chip implanted yet?

No, can't see the point of that. But controlling robots (or better yet, controlling monkeys!) with my brain sounds rad.

[hc5duke]

Last year Duke develops an invisibility cloak, and now they demonstrate a brain machine. WOW!

This year they (ok, WE) also developed an acoustic invisibility cloak (http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205602068) (as opposed to visual) for avoiding sonar detection... in theory.

[mpj96]

I think I liked devilalumna's headline better than the Herald Tribune's.

Unbelievable story. The potential behind this technology seems vast -- from prosthetics to assistance for paraplegics / quadraplegics to lazybones like me having a robot mow the yard..

Wow. Is it just me or did the robot's face even look a little simian?

[DevilAlumna]

There's a video up on YouTube about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSaBOd4pQpM

Am I just totally clueless, or did everyone else already know about the Duke University News channel on YouTube?

http://www.youtube.com/user/DukeUniversityNews

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

There's a video up on YouTube about this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSaBOd4pQpM

Am I just totally clueless, or did everyone else already know about the Duke University News channel on YouTube?

http://www.youtube.com/user/DukeUniversityNews

I was clueless as you on this! I'm tuned in now, though! Stumbling across dukereads.com in there was serendipitous! Kudos to DBR and the multi-faceted Off Topic Board once again. Bless your hearts.....really!
Love, Ima

[allenmurray]

Monkeys used to control my actions by their brain signals all the time - then I started lining the inside of my hat with tin foil and it got a lot better. Now if I could just get those Soviet agents to stop sending me secret messages via the sounds in my Rice Krispies . . .

In all seriousness, pretty fascinating stuff. Given the same technology - robotics via brain waves - think of the possibilities for paraplegics using high tech prosthetics.

[DukeDevil]

We can rebuild him, we have the technology. But we don't want to spend a lot of money...