Friday, July 12, 2013

The Future of Robotics

When we think of robots, a lot of us geeks first think of C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars.” Technically robots and robotics have been in use since the Industrial Revolution. They're what made it industrial, and a...revolution. Robotics and related tech are getting more and more commonplace, and changing and improving our lives, in many different facets ranging from medicine to warfare.
In the medical field, robotics have led to stunning enhancements in the field of prosthetics. Due to recent conflicts in the Middle East, there have been a larger number of amputees coming back from war than ever before. Technology has needed to keep in stride with the demand for better and better artificial limb options.

Bluetooth technology has been included in opposing limbs for multiple amputees. For instance, an Iraq war vet was fitted with two artificial legs after losing his own legs in combat. Bluetooth devices were built into each leg, effectively allowing the legs to “communicate” to coordinate stride, pressure, and speed between the two prosthetic limbs.

Robot prosthetics, image courtesy of News.Discovery.com
Read More

No comments: