Miguel Nicolelis and his colleagues at Duke University and a number of other institutions worldwide are working feverishly on a robotic suit, an exoskeleton, intended to let a handicapped teenager walk onto the pitch at the 2014 World Cup Soccer to deliver the first ceremonial kick. Eventually this technology is intended for general use.

One preliminary test of the technology shows a monkey outfitted with the robotic suit moving one leg. For the animal to accomplish this task, signals from a computer that mimics the locomotion pattern of a rhesus monkey cause the robotic limb to move the animal's leg. This demonstration shows that this early prototype of the exoskeleton can exert enough force to carry the monkey. Soon, the researchers will block electrical signals from the animal's spinal cord to allow signals to be transmitted directly from electrodes implanted in the monkey's brain to a computer for processing and then to the exoskeleton to initiate ambulatory movements.

4 Comments

1. 1. pabloson 11:46 AM 8/29/12

   Ah geez, leave the poor monkeys alone!

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2. 2. Enidmelanie 01:46 PM 8/30/12

   I agree. Although I find the news fascinating, the video sickens me ... I assume the poor monkey wasn't paraplegic in the first place. Can't bear to watch this.

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3. 3. maravill 08:12 PM 9/5/12

   Horrible... an inhumane method to develop this - build prototypes to test on willing disabled humans. My son was shot in the head and cannot walk since the whole right side is paralyzed and the left was left very weak. He loves animals and he would test such a device himself rather than the use of extreme cruelty.

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4. 4. bucketofsquid 04:31 PM 9/10/12

   I have no problem with animal testing but I must wonder if the animal was deliberately harmed. Were I unable to walk I would regretfully cheer the development of cybernetic limbs to restore my mobility. Since I know several children in wheelchairs who are unable to have their bodies rebuilt or repaired, I strongly support this research. Just don't expect me to watch the video, I already have enough trouble sleeping at night.

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