A group of engineers have created a bionic arm with a human-like ‘mind of its own’.
It’s hoped the technology will aid amputees in their experience while using prosthetics.
The product begins with complex pressure sensors that then train an artificial neural network into adopting certain postures and movements.
READ MORE: Depression sufferers can use futuristic headset to get treatment at home
It works in tandem with artificial intelligence to create a seamless flow of moments, such as grasping, with little-to-no effort from the user, reports Need To Know.
According to the American Psychological Association, over 44% of those with upper-limb amputations abandon the artificial body part.
Reasons stated include discomfort, lack of functional gain and poor fit.
Simple tasks such as drinking from a plastic cup can be incredibly difficult for an amputee; squeeze too soft and you’ll drop it, but squeeze too hard and you’ll break it.
Led by Jacob A. George, an engineering professor, and Marshall Trout, a post-doctoral research at the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, the study was conducted at the University of Utah.
“As lifelike as bionic arms are becoming, controlling them is still not easy or intuitive,” said Trout.
“Nearly half of all users will abandon their prosthesis, often citing their poor controls and cognitive burden.”
The product has displayed an autonomous approach, which is similar to the way humans’ minds work.
Researchers also created a system that allows an AI agent to complement the bionic hand, allowing a balance of human and machine.
Marshall Trout added: “What we don’t want is the user fighting the machine for control.
“In contrast, here the machine improved the precision of the user while also making the tasks easier.”
Jacob A. George, said: “In essence, the machine augmented their natural control so that they could complete tasks without having to think about them.
“By adding some artificial intelligence, we were able to offload this aspect of grasping to the prosthesis itself.
“The end result is more intuitive and more dexterous control, which allows simple tasks to be simple again.”
READ MORE: New screen magic helps ordinary people create cinema-quality moments
