Man meets machine…or man becomes machine?

Most of us have seen at least one of the Robocops, Terminators, Pacific Rim, or any one of the myriad other man-melded-to-machine movies. One thing that seems to be a constant in these stories is that they never end well. That may be a Hollywood construction, or there may be something to it. One thing for certain is that we are going to find out sooner rather than later. As prosthetics become more and more integrated with human biology, we can be assured that technology that is now being used to restore some level of normalcy to injured veterans will be weaponized at the first opportunity, if it hasn’t been already.

Introducing the “Terminator Arm”

Based on new technological advances, Afghanistan and Iraq war amputees may someday be able to replace arm loss with robotic prosthetics. In 2006, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched the Revolutionizing Prosthetics program. Since then, DARPA has sponsored the development of two advanced prosthetic arm systems, including sockets. These limbs provide increased range of motion, dexterity and control options. Thirty-five amputee volunteers participated in a Department of Veteran Affairs funded study and provided feedback on the testing and subsequent refinement of the prosthetics. In 2012, the robotic prosthetics were submitted for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

Robotic Arm

Last year the FDA approved the first applicant of the DARPA sponsored robotic product called the DEKA Arm system. According to Christy Foreman, from FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, “The DEKA Arm System may allow some people to perform more complex tasks than they can with current prostheses in a way that more closely resembles the natural motion of the arm.” According to the story, “the arm, nicknamed the “Luke” after the Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker, who loses his hand in combat and has it replaced by an artificial robotic hand.

This is a robotic arm and hand prosthetic that is controlled by the mind and integrated into the body’s nervous system using Targeted Muscle Reinvention. The goal of the program was to create better functionality, near-human strength, wearability, and comfort and look like a human hand.”

The “Luke” was invented by Dean Kamen’s company called DEKA Research and Development Corporation. His company has invented and helped develop such devices as the iBOT, Segway PT, Stirling Engine, solar power, and medical devices.

The robotic arm uses the healthy electronic signals in the muscles around the point of amputation to complete tasks more effectively. The DEKA Arm System achieved FDA approval because 90 percent of the volunteers using it were able to perform daily tasks with the robotic arm that they could not perform with traditional prostheses, such as brushing hair, preparing food, using keys and eating.

Public Broadcasting science correspondent Miles O’Brien, who lost his arm in a freak accident in 2014, demonstrates the functionality of the robotic arm on PBS news story.

DARPA researchers are also achieving promising results using brain control of an advanced arm system that was developed by John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. The work with tetraplegic volunteers has demonstrated the potential to use advanced prostheses to improve the quality of life for victims of paralysis.

Hand Proprioception and Touch Interfaces (HAPTIX) — Sense of Touch Technology

DARPA’s latest program in robotic technology is the Hand Proprioception and Touch Interfaces, or HAPTIX. The purpose of this program is to include prosthetics with a sense of touch. According to DARPA, despite the recent improvements in prosthetic technologies, amputees still lack the sensation of touch. If a touch sensor is incorporated, amputees would be able to perform fine-motor skills. DARPA says it plans to initiate FDA trials of this system within four years.

This video provides an overview on how the technology works:

In addition to DARPA prosthetic technology, other technological applications are being used to help Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans regain their independence. One of the applications is smart home technology, which is assisting veterans to take control of their lives. Smart homes, with appliances that can be controlled remotely through iPads or iPhones, provide potential game changing technology for amputees. According to Mark Perriello, a spokesman for the American Association of People with Disabilities, “Smart homes offer tools for people with disabilities to live more independently, allowing them to take control — turn on and off lights, find out who knocks on the door,” “They have the ability to be transformative.”

While the first tool was probably used to kill a snake, you can be assured that the second one was used to kill another person. While there is no value in arguing against the use of technology to help people, are we looking at the costs to their humanity? Will it be easier to send young men and women into harms way if we are more convinced of our ability to rebuild them stronger and faster?

The following news stories show the features of smart homes for several veteran triple amputees who lost his limbs in Afghanistan.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/10/living/9-11-foundation-wounded-warrior-smart-home/

http://www.news9.com/story/29118406/triple-amputee-veteran-gets-new-smart-home