The integration of extra limbs has the potential to significantly enhance productivity across various professions, as demonstrated by experiments showcasing people’s intuitive control over these additional appendages. Research suggests that individuals can effectively operate a robotic third arm through a combination of eye movements and chest muscle contractions. This innovation holds promise for fields such as surgery and industrial work, according to Giulia Dominijanni and her team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.
In their study, Dominijanni and her colleagues developed both physical robotic third arms and virtual counterparts within virtual reality (VR) environments. Control mechanisms relied on a fusion of eye movements and diaphragm contractions. Remarkably, 65 volunteers successfully executed a range of tasks during tests without impeding their normal breathing, speech, or vision. Unlike traditional prosthetics for amputees, which leverage existing nerve connections, these augmented devices necessitate entirely new neural interfaces. Despite this complexity, the experiments revealed the adaptability of the human brain in intuitively controlling these devices.
Dominijanni emphasizes the potential applications of such technology in industrial settings, where additional limbs could facilitate machinery control, as well as in search-and-rescue operations, enabling faster rubble exploration and medical response. The team even explored the use of vestigial ear muscles, once employed by ancestors for improved hearing, as alternative control interfaces. This innovation could either replace or supplement diaphragm control.While envisioning scenarios where individuals could have multiple extra limbs or arms with increased degrees of freedom, Dominijanni underscores the importance of thoughtful design in determining the optimal configuration. She envisions a future where humans seamlessly integrate additional limbs into their daily lives, providing practical solutions for a range of tasks. Despite the potential for widespread adoption, these technologies may initially remain as premium and specialized gadgets, akin to the status of virtual reality goggles.
