Neuralink now wants to control a robotic arm

Company Neuralink from Elon Musk announced that it is going to begin testing technology that will allow a paralyzed person to control a robotic arm with the power of thought.

“We are pleased to announce the approval and launch of a new feasibility study for extending brain-computer interface (BCI) control with the N1 implant to the research assistive robotic arm,” Neuralink said in a post on X on Monday.

He called the event “an important first step towards restoring not only digital freedom, but also physical freedom.”

Neuralink has been developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) since its founding in 2016 and, following animal testing, successfully implanted its first BCI in a human volunteer earlier this year. In April published a video showing paraplegic volunteer Noland Arbaughusing thoughts to control the cursor and move chess pieces on the computer screen.

In August, Neuralink said it had implanted the brain chip in a second volunteer and planned to conduct eight more trials in the coming months. Alongside its ongoing work, Neuralink now wants to expand the use of this technology to see how effective it can be in controlling an external device such as a robotic arm, which, if successful, could give people with paralysis a new level of independence. .

Neuralink uses a robot that surgically places ultra-thin flexible BCI strands into the part of the brain that controls movement intention. Once installed, the implant, which is cosmetically invisible, is capable of recording and transmitting brain signals wirelessly to an app that deciphers movement intent, the company says.

The main goal of Neuralink’s ongoing work with human volunteers is to evaluate the safety of the implant, as well as the effectiveness of the surgical robot that performs it. You also evaluate the actual capabilities of the interface.

Musk founded Neuralink with a small team of scientists and engineers. Other companies are known to be exploring similar technology, such as BrainGate, which allowed a paralysis patient to communicate his thoughts by converting his imaginary handwriting into text.