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bionic arm
A decade on, Segway creator's prosthetic arm will arrive at the end of the year
The advanced prosthetic arm can grab light and heavy objects without dropping or breaking them.
ONE OF THE world’s most advanced prosthetic arms will be arriving on the market later this year.
The LUKE arm – named after Luke Skywalker’s prosthetic arm in Star Wars – was designed by the creator of the Segway Dean Kamen and has been in the works for over a decade. The company behind it, Mobius Bionics, is preparing to launch it by the end of the year.
The main draw of the LUKE arm is how versatile it is, offering more flexibility and movement than many normal prosthetics. The shoulder, elbow and wrist are all powered individually, allowing the wearer to reach overhead or lift a heavy bag from the floor to tabletop.
The hand has four independent motors and a number of preprogrammed grips allowing the wearer to grab delicate items like a phone or egg, or heavier items without it slipping or breaking.
Sensors allow the wearer to know just how hard they’re gripping an item, and the prosthetic is protected against water and dust.
The makers of the arm have tested the arm with nearly 100 amputees for over 10,000 hours of use. Mobius Bionics hasn’t revealed how much the prosthetic will cost, but it will likely be out of reach for those who aren’t well-off.
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