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Articles tagged with: ‘Bionics‘

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SMU-led research aims to connect brain signals to robotic limbs

By Damir Beciri
19 October 2010

luke-skywalker-handLightning-fast connections between robotic limbs and the human brain may be within reach for amputees. Funded by a Department of Defense initiative dedicated to audacious challenges and intense time schedules, the SMU engineers from Neurophotonics Research Center will develop two-way fiber optic communication between prosthetic limbs and peripheral nerves. Successful completion of the fiber optic… »

Bionics| Robotics»

Berkeley Bionics eLEGS exoskeleton could help paraplegics walk

By Damir Beciri
One Comment9 October 2010

amanda-walk-in-elegs-exoskeletonBerkeley Bionics developed the first practical exoskeleton and the first untethered exoskeleton in the world. Later on, through a licensed agreement with Lockheed Martin Corporation, they came up with HULC exoskeleton which is meant for military use. A few days ago they unveiled similarly looking eLEGS, a wearable, artificially intelligent, bionic device that powers paraplegics… »

Bionics| Robotics»

Raytheon’s second-generation exoskeleton XOS 2

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments30 September 2010

xos-2-exoskeleton-1Raytheon Company unveiled their second generation Exoskeleton named XOS 2 at their research facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a demonstration with Paramount Home Entertainment. The new robotic suit is lighter, faster and stronger than its predecessor, yet it uses 50 percent less power. Its enhanced design also makes it more resistant to the… »

Bionics| Tech»

Future applications of synthetic silk and challenges that remain

By Damir Beciri
14 August 2010

spider-on-its-webNatural silk, fibers made by spiders and silkworms, is a material that is tougher than kevlar or steel, yet remarkably flexible. In recent years, researchers have worked to gain a better understanding of what silk is and how it’s made, with the goal of being able to consistently replicate and enhance its production synthetically. Aside… »

Bionics| Robotics| Tech»

Biomimicry of honeybee eye could improve robotic vision

By Damir Beciri
9 August 2010

honey-beeThe capabilities and behavior of bees have inspired scientists in various fields as swarm movement and cooperation. Neurobiologists from Bielefeld University, Germany, have been researching the computational mechanisms that allow the nervous system to extract behaviorally relevant information from the retinal input and to use this information in behavioral control. In their previous research, the… »

Bionics| Robotics| Tech»

Gut movements in caterpillars have impact on robotic design

By Damir Beciri
29 July 2010

manduca-sexta-caterpillarWeird movements in the abdomens of freely crawling caterpillars are making headlines in the fields of biology and engineering. The findings from a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including Jake Socha, Virginia Tech assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, Michael Simon of Tufts University’s Department of Biology, and Barry Trimmer, professor of biology at Tufts,… »

Bionics| Tech»

English ivy nanoparticles could be used for future sunscreens

By Damir Beciri
One Comment20 July 2010

english-ivy-hedera-helix-1Researchers at the University of Tennessee reported that English ivy nanoparticles may protect skin from UV radiation better than other metal-based nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide (TiO2). The team was led by Mingjun Zhang, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Tennessee, who previously discovered that English ivy owes its amazing clinging… »

Bionics| Robotics»

REX Bionics robotic exoskeleton Rex could aid to paraplegics

By Damir Beciri
3 Comments16 July 2010

rex-bionics-robotic-exoskeleton-rex-controlsWe already wrote several articles regarding exoskeletons as HULC, HAL-5 and power suit developed for elder Japanese farmers, however, the exoskeleton described in this article differs in its main porpoise. A robotic exoskeleton called Rex puts wheelchair users back on their feet, enabling a person to stand, walk and go up and down the stairs… »