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“But when he thinks "walk", it sets off a chain of instructions to move his legs” Not to poo poo this achievement but the ability to imitate a single, non-spec

“But when he thinks "walk", it sets off a chain of instructions to move his legs” Not to poo poo this achievement but the ability to imitate a single, non-specific command with a brain implant has been around for years (decades?) now. Sounds like He is issuing a single command and then “walk” command is controlled by the computer. Not as though he is independently moving each leg. Still cool, if not as groundbreaking as it may seem.

icebraining 7y ago
While full control is obviously better for some things, I wonder if overall this isn't better. It would reduce the training from having to adapt your brain to control a foreign body, to just issuing simpler commands, and might be safer too. Imagine using Atlas[1] as the exoskeleton, you just think about going forward and it navigates the terrain for you. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LikxFZZO2sk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LikxFZZO2sk
- ufmace 7y ago
  It seems like you'd lose a ton of utility like that. How cold you maneuver in tight spaces without the ability to move each leg/foot in a particular way and put the in a particular place? Much less run, jump, dance, play sports, etc.
  - icebraining 7y ago
    Did you watch the video? Atlas can run and jump, even do backflips. Tight spaces shouldn't be much of a problem either, as long as the software knew the size of the exoskeleton + human. Yes, activities where the goal is the movement itself, rather than getting somewhere, would be hampered. My point is that getting that precise control may be much harder, both technologically and in terms of user training. Maybe a gradual approach could be implemented.
radarsat1 7y ago
So you didn't read the rest of the article? Here are some quotes for you so you don't have to: "it is a marked advance on similar approaches that allow people to control a single limb with their thoughts." , "And he can control each of the arms, manoeuvring them in three-dimensional space" , "It took a lot longer to learn how to control the arms. 'It was very difficult because it is a combination of multiple muscles and movements. This is the most impressive thing I do with the exoskeleton.'" , "In tasks where Thibault had to touch specific targets by using the exoskeleton to move his upper and lower arms and rotate his wrists, he was successful 71% of the time." , "There are also plans to develop finger control to allow Thibault to pick up and move objects." So they specifically address your point and show advances beyond previous successes in the field.

icebraining 7y ago

While full control is obviously better for some things, I wonder if overall this isn't better. It would reduce the training from having to adapt your brain to control a foreign body, to just issuing simpler commands, and might be safer too. Imagine using Atlas[1] as the exoskeleton, you just think about going forward and it navigates the terrain for you. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LikxFZZO2sk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LikxFZZO2sk

ufmace 7y ago
It seems like you'd lose a ton of utility like that. How cold you maneuver in tight spaces without the ability to move each leg/foot in a particular way and put the in a particular place? Much less run, jump, dance, play sports, etc.
- icebraining 7y ago
  Did you watch the video? Atlas can run and jump, even do backflips. Tight spaces shouldn't be much of a problem either, as long as the software knew the size of the exoskeleton + human. Yes, activities where the goal is the movement itself, rather than getting somewhere, would be hampered. My point is that getting that precise control may be much harder, both technologically and in terms of user training. Maybe a gradual approach could be implemented.

radarsat1 7y ago

So you didn't read the rest of the article? Here are some quotes for you so you don't have to: "it is a marked advance on similar approaches that allow people to control a single limb with their thoughts." , "And he can control each of the arms, manoeuvring them in three-dimensional space" , "It took a lot longer to learn how to control the arms. 'It was very difficult because it is a combination of multiple muscles and movements. This is the most impressive thing I do with the exoskeleton.'" , "In tasks where Thibault had to touch specific targets by using the exoskeleton to move his upper and lower arms and rotate his wrists, he was successful 71% of the time." , "There are also plans to develop finger control to allow Thibault to pick up and move objects." So they specifically address your point and show advances beyond previous successes in the field.