U of A lab demonstrates prosthetic technology [Video]

Local lab researchers have combined brain signals and artificial intelligence to create more responsive prosthetics for amputees.

The University of Alberta’s Bionic Limbs for Improved Natural Control (BLINC) Lab showcased the Bento Arm during their first appearance at the Cybathlon, a rehabilitation technology competition, in Switzerland finishing in eighth place.

The Bento Arm is an advanced robotic prosthetic that accurately mimics everyday arm and hand movements using machine learning that recognizes brain signals and muscle patterns.to.

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“When my arm was amputated, all of the nerves that basically went down to my forearm … naturally kind of re-embedded themselves … I can still imagine closing my hand, and what it does is it creates weird little muscle twitches, especially around the scar area,” said Chris Neilsen, BLINC’s Lab’s pilot for the competition.

“It takes advantage of all those random signals and …