MetaLimbs, the robotic arms that you control with your legs

These are two robotic arms to be placed under normal human arms that are controlled, thanks to a series of sensors, with feet and knees

Who wouldn't like to have two extra arms? We could perform several tasks simultaneously and more quickly. Science fiction? Absolutely not. A group of Japanese researchers - and who if not them - has developed two functional robotic arms to be attached to the body.

The additional artificial limbs, which scientists at the Inami Laboratory of the University of Tokyo call Meta Limbs, are robotic arms to be placed under the normal human arms that are controlled, thanks to a series of sensors, directly with the legs. Taking a look at the presentation video, the Multi Arm Interaction Metamorphism, an alternative name chosen by the researchers to identify the robotic device, seem to be able to perform the functions of two additional arms. In fact, a boy can be seen answering the phone while typing on the computer with both hands, thanks to the support of the robotic limb.

How the robotic arms work

The "sci-fi" device developed by the Japanese team includes the two arms and a positional tracking system. The artificial limbs, in fact, are controlled through the movements of the legs. Two sensors are mounted on the feet and knees that allow users to move the robotic arms. A particular sensor, then, allows you to activate the fist of the mechanical hand, moving the toes of one foot. And that's not all. The invention by the group of Japanese researchers includes haptic sensors that send atypical feedback to the feet - a sort of vibration comparable to that rendered by smartphones - when an object is touched.

Show Date

Scientists at Inami Laboratory will present the novelty during SIGGRAPH 2017, a conference dedicated to computer graphics and interactive techniques to be held in Los Angeles July 30-August 3.

The video at the top is from YouTube

Some of the videos in this section were taken from the Internet, thus rated in the public domain. If the subjects present in these videos or the authors have something against the publication, just make a request for removal by sending an email to: [email protected]. We will provide to the cancellation of the video in the shortest time possible.