AssetID: 52826141
Headline: Japanese Scientists Develop Robotic Arms For Humans You Wear Like A Backpack
Caption: Researchers have developed wearable robotic arms for humans. Jizai Arms are described as a robotic limb system that can be attached as and when required, with limbs that can be exchanged among acquaintances. Users secure the base unit to their bodies and can attach up to six arms, with interchangeable hand modules depending on the task. The arms can then be controlled by the user or remotely. The research team from the University of Tokyo states that the system "has been designed to facilitate social interaction among multiple users." During testing, they discovered that the appendages became so natural to the users that they missed them once they were removed. In a research paper, they describe: "Through our role-playing sessions, we observed that our bodies were able to accurately perceive the attachment/detachment of the arms, and we particularly felt a significant impact when detaching or reducing the number of robotic arms worn." The developers also anticipate a future where users can personalise their artificial limbs. The study adds: "We also propose incorporating customisability into the robotic arms to foster a sense of social ownership, an individual's feeling of possessing a particular artificial body part that is shared among multiple individuals, as a potential avenue for future research." The researchers suggest that Jizai Arms may indicate a future in which cyborg technology gains popularity. They state: "Fifty years after the concept of a cyborg was introduced, digital cyborgs, made possible by the proliferation of wearable robotics, have become a focal point of current research. "We also provide an autobiographical account of our initial experiences with using the Jizai Arms and utilise our findings to speculate on a model of potential social interactions among digital cyborgs. "We believe that our firsthand research narrative will contribute to future projects aimed at designing digital cyborgs and human-machine integrated approaches in general."
Keywords: feature,photo feature,photo story,robot,robotic,arm,limb,tech,technology,design,Jizai Arms,robotic limb system
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