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Monkeys Can Control Robot Arms Using Only Their Thoughts

news.bbc.co.uk — Monkeys have been able to control robotic limbs using only their thoughts, scientists report. The animals were able to feed themselves using prosthetic arms, which were controlled by brain activity. Writing in Nature journal, the authors said their work could eventually help amputees and people who are paralysed.

Who dugg this? Made popular May 29, 2008

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  • DigiDave, on 05/28/2008, -3/+42Wow. This story is four years old.

    Seriously: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004 ...

    No knock on MakiMaki - I think the BBC is wasting their time trying to re-hash this story.
  • WraTH017, on 05/28/2008, -1/+23Using ONLY their thoughts? Title's a bit misleading. I was expecting an article about monkey telekineses.
  • wefarrell, on 05/29/2008, -0/+10It's only a matter of time before the monkey cyborgs enslave us all.
  • MangalaIII, on 05/29/2008, -0/+7This was big news...in 2000
  • Shiftgood, on 05/29/2008, -0/+6The telescoping effect of innovation means in our lifetime we are due for 1 or 2 (3?) major breakthroughs in our life.

    high five for being alive right now.... this is awesome.
  • PinkChicken, on 05/28/2008, -1/+7+1 monkeys
    But we're still winning.
  • tehbored, on 05/28/2008, -3/+8Oh great, yet another monkey and robotic arm experiment to prove what we've already known for at least four years.
  • RyeBrye, on 05/29/2008, -0/+5Krang will soon be a reality.... well... once brains can start to talk too
  • tinkafoo, on 05/29/2008, -1/+5Dr. Miguel Nicolelis did this with a simple video game a few years ago.
    Caution.. The 04:30 mark of this video will make you jump:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTVVYYxY9Cs
  • Spartanious, on 05/29/2008, -3/+7Game over. They won.


    I for one welcome our new overlords.
  • mparker7410, on 05/29/2008, -0/+4~In the year 2000... Monkeys can throw their feces with nothing but mind control and a robot arm ...In the year 2000~
  • crazyjake, on 05/29/2008, -0/+4yeah, we pretty much pwn 1300's!

    seriously though, what happened in the 1300's?
  • jrobh, on 05/29/2008, -0/+3I wish I could digg this comment about 10 times.
  • Danoz, on 05/29/2008, -0/+3The 60 seconds that were cut from the end of this video show the monkey bludgeoning the scientist to death with its metal arm. Its true, i swear.
  • arcticblue, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2You did it wrong.
  • rentmitchum, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2HAW HAW HAW says Jack Chick.
  • arcooke, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2Wow, that was a great video.
  • Hassassin, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2We are soooo ***** when the robotic monkey uprising takes place.
  • trevah, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2I'm not sure for how long though...

    Did anyone else read that as "Moneys Can Control Robot Armies"? I almost ***** myself.
  • cranium, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2Okay, old joke, but what do you think the poo-flinging range is of that thing?
  • BobbyMC, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2The only reason the age of these tests is detrimental to the enjoyment of the article is that you are distracted by the annoying fact that despite this they still haven't gotten around to attaching a few more wires and building a monkey exoskeleton.
  • ienjoyhotsoup, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2You didn't read the last paragraph about the scientists attaching robot arms with chain guns to the monkeys and training them to become ultimate killing machines.


    Oh what a difference 4 years of research makes.
  • inactive, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2Step one: Eating.
    Step two: Poop throwing.
  • inactive, on 05/29/2008, -1/+3Buried for posting political crap in the SCIENCE section.

    >>>>
    Politics is that way.
  • Owwmykneecap, on 05/29/2008, -1/+3Get your robotic Mind controlled arm off of me, YOU DAMNED DIRTY MONKEY.
  • nullcodes, on 05/29/2008, -0/+2Why did someone down digg the above? It was a good video.
  • R2DeeDoo, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Strange cose Bush cannot control his mouth with his mind. Or maybe that's because he aint got a mind of his own?
  • Philbert, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Get your stinking robot arms off me you damned dirty ape!
  • Philbert, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1That's exactly what I was thinking, I clicked the link expecting to see some crazy story about monkey telekinesis.

    wontstoptalking: In case you didn't know, that South Park bit was a reference to the movie Scanners.
  • jrobh, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1I hope not
  • AnotherBrian, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Damn it! I want to control a robot arm with my mind.
  • dizzythegreat, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1I can't help but imagine a monkey in a giant robotic suit, killing hundreds of people.
  • nullcodes, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Besides helping the disabled, there are tons of possibilities for neural interfaces .. such as for gaming and communication. For example you can be on the cell phone withoput actually talking. Or find files on a computer using thought UI.. or ditch keyboards etc.

    I think if they oriented towards gamers too it would be easier to get the research funded since gamers are a larger market than the disabled.
  • Arguman, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1And last year some monkeys were able to control robot legs. We just have to hope this technology doesn't get into the hands of Apes. Charlton Heston is probably in hell right now screaming "I told you! But you wouldn't believe me!" while probably ripping off his shirt.
  • judsond, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1That's why I dugg this, I don't care if it's true, it's a funny idea. :P
  • neuro420, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1That amputees are lazy, first its wheelchairs, then its monkeys to control their robotic limbs for them. get off your ass and get your own dam monkey
  • neko, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1I'm having System Shock 2 flashbacks....
  • kataztrophy, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1That tears it, I want a pet monkey damnit. ***** what PETA has to say about it, I want it to pilot a giant mecha for me.
  • Arguman, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1that's real sad there, buddy.
  • hagfish70, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1monkey for teh win.
  • Amadeus2490, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Well, they've already developed a system of sub-vocalization for astronauts. What this means, is that when you think about talking, your brain still sends nerve impulses to your throat that form the words. The machine picks these up, amplifies them and sends them to a headset.

    Can't they theoretically find a way to amplify and transmit thoughts without having to rely on the throat?
  • AnotherBrian, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Why monkey vs robot, when now you can have both?

    You got a monkey in my robot.
    No you got a robot in my monkey!

    /I'll be here all week.
  • bradbury, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1I think the world can officially end now - it doesn't get much better than this.

    In related news:
    * Pirates Control Ninjas With Their Peglegs
    * Dragons Control Meerkats With Their Love
    * Elves Control Santa with Opium
  • infinitus64, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1articblue is right you did it wrong, i was going to do it but you beat me to it.
  • inactive, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1I, for one, welcome our new cybernetic-arm-wielding monkey overlords!
  • nydwarf, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1Well I welcome our new Monkey Overlords.
  • lukas88, on 05/29/2008, -1/+2Did anyone else read that as "monkeys can control robot ARMY using only their thoughts"?

    I was getting ready to take my suicide pills.
  • CognitiveDig, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Please don't test on monkeys. It is cruel and inhumane.
  • Arguman, on 05/29/2008, -0/+1Jin? what? who is that?

    "Ape shall never kill ape" Is from Planet of the Apes, plebeian.
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