Chapter 913: The terrifying performance and problems of the bionic robotic arm
Jinling.
The entrance to the experimental building of the Clinical Medicine Center in the Hexi Campus of the First Hospital.
Xu Xiaohe, the director of the Hexi Branch of the First Hospital, was standing at the entrance of the stairs waiting. After a while, a Hongqi car drove up from a distant intersection.
Seeing this familiar car, Xu Xiao's eyes lit up and he walked over quickly.
"Brother!"
The cart opened the door and as soon as Xu Chuan stepped out, a familiar voice sounded in his ears.
With a smile on his face, he looked over and saw Xu Xiao, who was wearing a medical white coat with a ponytail swaying. He hadn't seen him for more than a month, and his face had lost a lot of weight, with some dark circles under his eyes.
"You've lost a little weight. Have you stayed up late recently?" Xu Chuan asked with a smile as he looked at his younger sister.
Xu Xiao: "It's hard not to endure it. If brain-computer interface technology is solved sooner, those with disabilities will be able to resume their normal lives one day earlier."
Xu Chuan smiled, and just as he was about to joke, another voice came to his ears.
"Academician Xu, welcome, welcome to the First Hospital to guide research work."
Beside the cement steps, a middle-aged and elderly man walked up with a smile on his face and extended his hands enthusiastically.
On the side, Xu Xiao smiled and helped explain: "This is Director Cao Hongsheng of Jinling First Hospital. The cooperative clinical research between Starlight Brain-Computer Interface Technology and the First Hospital was promoted by Director Cao."
Xu Chuan smiled and stretched out his hand, shook hands with Dean Cao, and said, "Hello, Dean Cao, I'm sorry to trouble you with Xu Xiao's research."
With a smile on his face, Cao Hongsheng said quickly: "No trouble, no trouble, this is no trouble. It is a pure honor for our hospital to be able to cooperate in scientific and technological research in such a cutting-edge field. It is Xu Xiao who takes care of us."
"
After exchanging a few words at the door, Xu Chuan was not prepared to waste time. He looked at Xu Xiao and said, "I have already seen an overview of the experimental data on the way here. Now take me to see your clinical experimental research.
"
Xu Xiao nodded, turned around and led the way towards the building.
Taking the elevator, the group arrived at the seventh floor of the clinical research center building.
After passing through the corridor, we entered a room inside the research center that didn't look much different from a ward. Inside were two middle-aged men who voluntarily accepted the experiment.
Xu Chuan glanced at them and found that both of them were typical disabled people.
The difference is that one of them is missing his right leg, which is nearly half of his thigh, and even his knees are missing.
Another person was missing his left hand and had it amputated close to the elbow joint.
The same thing is that the two people who lost their limbs have already undergone surgery and been fitted with silver-white artificial prostheses.
However, perhaps because of the ongoing clinical trials, neither the right leg prosthesis nor the left hand prosthesis is covered with bionic skin, and the various components and pipelines on the robotic arm are clearly visible.
This is to facilitate various debugging work during the clinical trial process.
Seeing a group of people doing the experiment, in the room, among the two middle-aged men undergoing the experiment, the middle-aged man who was missing his left arm stood up and walked over.
"Expert, my arm always feels a little trembling and swollen when I control it. This kind of experiment really has no impact on the body, right?"
As he spoke, he touched the back of his head with his right hand. Although he couldn't touch it with his hands and usually didn't feel anything strange, there was an extra thing in his brain, which always made him feel very awkward.
After all, for a farmer like him, it's always unsettling to plant something that doesn't belong to you in a place like your brain that could kill you if you hit it wrongly.
Especially after the prosthetic limb was transplanted to his left hand, although he could control it, he still had twitching and shaking from time to time and made some movements that he had never thought of. But the prosthetic limb was made by himself, which made him a little flustered.
Xu Xiao walked over, rolled up the half sleeve on the other person's arm, carefully observed the interface between the implanted bionic prosthetic limb and the arm itself, pressed the skin, confirmed that there was nothing wrong, and comforted him with a smile.
"Don't worry, the anastomosis at the transplant site is recovering very well."
"We use the best bionic materials, which can be well integrated with the human skin and bones. At present, the bionic skin and materials have grown and healed together with your own arm tissue."
"As for some occasional twitching, shaking and other movements when using it, these are currently normal."
"After all, this new technology still needs to be continuously optimized. Don't worry, although there are still some minor problems in its use, I can guarantee that the transplanted bionic robotic arm and brain-computer chip will not have any other impact on your health.
.”
Xu Xiao patiently explained that she had actually said these words more than once or twice.
However, she still maintained a gentle and patient attitude towards the two patients participating in the clinical trial.
After explaining with a smile, Xu Xiao pulled Xu Chuan out from behind, pushed him in front of the patient undergoing clinical experiments, and said with a smile.
"If you don't believe me, then you should know him. Academician Xu Chuan, who often appeared on TV before."
After looking at Xu Chuan, the middle-aged farmer was full of excitement and said with a grin: "I know the great scientist. I saw it on TV before. He said that he discovered some fusion technology and now the electricity bill has been reduced."
Once I get it, my family can save more than a thousand yuan a year."
Xu Xiao smiled and said: "He came here this time specifically to deal with problems with the bionic robotic arm you transplanted."
"Don't worry. After a while, your arms and calves will become the same as your original arms and thighs. You can use them normally, live a normal life, and work normally."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man's face was full of smiles. He couldn't help nodding and laughing: "That's a good relationship, that's a good relationship. Sorry to bother you, experts. Thank you, great scientist."
Xu Chuan smiled and said hello to the middle-aged man undergoing clinical experiments with a smile. After pretending to help check the condition of the transplanted arm, he smiled and changed what Xu Xiao had said into a new set of words.
once.
On the side, Xu Xiao smiled and said: "You two, follow me, now go to the clinical trial center."
"This time Academician Xu is here to see the experimental conditions of these bionic robotic arms. We have to go through the experimental process normally according to the previous experimental process."
With that said, she took the lead and walked out of the room. Xu Chuan did not move for the moment, and his eyes fell on the two disabled men who were receiving and transmitting brain-computer interface bionics robotic arms clinical experiments.
Of course, the main focus fell on another experimenter who had lost his right leg, observing the walking condition of his prosthetic right leg.
Although it is said that because there is no bionic skin wrapped around it, this bionic mechanical leg looks a bit out of place.
But there is no big problem when walking.
Whether it is bending the knees, raising the legs, or landing the heels and then touching the bottom of the entire foot, these ordinary walking postures are almost perfectly achieved.
On the side, Zheng Hai squinted his eyes for a while and then said: "This comrade who lost his right leg should have come out of the army, and he should have been discharged not long ago."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan glanced at him in surprise and asked curiously: "How did you know?"
Zheng Hai smiled and said: "Temperament, and the way you walk."
"Although it looks a little different due to the mechanical leg installed on it, I can't mistake this feeling."
"A farmer and a soldier."
Xu Chuan smiled and said, "The clinical experimenters she chose are quite interesting."
Zheng Hai was noncommittal and asked: "This kind of mechanical leg shouldn't be cheap, right?"
Xu Chuan: "The cost should exceed one million. This is clinical experimental equipment with the most detailed functions."
After Musk bought back the Neuralink brain-computer interface company, it merged with the 'Starlight Virtual Technology Company' that he helped Xu Xiao open before.
Although the specific cost of this bionic robotic arm is not clear, it is definitely worth a lot of money.
Hearing the price, Zheng Hai frowned and said, "If that's the case, I'm afraid many people can't afford it."
Xu Chuan smiled, followed the leaving experimental team, and said: "Every new technology is expensive when it first appears."
"Just like mobile phones and computers, when they first appeared, not many people could afford them."
"But with the development of the times, isn't it true that almost everyone now has a mobile phone and a computer? Take your time, don't rush."
.....
The clinical laboratory is located on the other side of the seventh floor.
When Xu Chuan followed, Xu Xiao and related researchers were already making various preparations.
After waiting for a while, a scientific researcher in a white coat took Xu Xiao's place and walked over with a recording board in his hand.
"Today's experiment is the same as before. Which of you will come first?"
Hearing this, in the laboratory, another middle-aged man who had lost his right leg raised his hand and said, "I'll do it first."
Following the voice, Xu Chuan looked over.
This laboratory is quite large and contains various experimental equipment.
With the help of the staff, the soldier who came out of the army quickly put on various sensor data devices.
Walking, jogging, running fast, squatting, squatting on one leg, standing on one leg...sitting, lying, weight-bearing...quick response, flexibility...
A series of basic lower limb functional tests are being carried out in the laboratory.
Standing in the laboratory, Xu Chuan observed the activities of the clinical trial subject with great interest.
On the side, Xu Xiao spoke softly and explained: "For bionic manipulators, these basic tests can be mainly divided into motion range, speed performance, acceleration performance... position repeatability accuracy, path tracking accuracy, collision
Testing...Load performance testing and other seventeen categories."
"Beyond that, there are some other optional tests."
"For example, force control testing, modal analysis, disturbance suppression, environmental adaptation testing, battery life, etc."
"The combination of basic tests and optional tests can make a comprehensive evaluation of the control system, power supply system and other systems of the bionic robotic arm and brain-computer chip. Both overall performance and reliability can be completed in these tests.
"
Xu Chuan asked curiously: "How many test items are there in total?"
Xu Xiao thought for a while and replied: "There are a total of fifty-six basic tests and optional tests."
"In addition, there are also regulations on material stiffness testing, protection level testing, safety leakage inspections, etc. All added up..."
"Well, if we start with materials, there may be more than a hundred items."
On the side, Zheng Hai, who had been silently watching the experiment, suddenly asked: "Can I ask, what is the maximum load of this bionic mechanical leg?"
Xu Xiao replied without thinking: "The current critical load test for the mechanical leg is 573 kilograms. The single-leg load was obtained in an independent experiment, that is, an experiment without surgical insertion into the human body."
"Exceeding this load, the knee joint material will be damaged to a certain extent. If the load is exceeded, the material at the connection will be directly cracked, deformed, damaged, etc."
"As for the experimental tests that have been connected to the human body, considering the bone strength of the experimenters, we have only conducted load tests below 150 kilograms."
"To put it simply, when a bionic mechanical leg is used to stand on one leg, with the assistance of other equipment, it can bear a load of less than 150 kilograms, squat and stand up while bearing the weight of the human body itself.
Waiting for activities.”
"Is there any problem? Brother Zheng."
Zheng Hai thought for a while and said: "The operation of the mechanical legs requires external energy or electrical energy, right? For example, a battery? How long can it last?"
The critical load of a single body test is more than 500 kilograms, and the human body test of a single leg exceeds 150 kilograms. Plus the weight of an adult man, the load is at least more than 250 kilograms. If there are no restrictions on this mechanical leg,
The performance is a bit exaggerated.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Xu Xiao nodded and said: "Of course, this kind of bionic device is controlled by converting brain nerve signals into electrical signals, and it definitely requires external energy to support its movement.
, otherwise where does the energy come from?”
After a pause, she looked at the experimenter who was conducting the test, and then said: "Currently we are using two lithium-sulfur batteries as energy supply. Under normal activities, the arm can last for about 15 hours."
"Because the thighs bear more weight and require higher energy supply, they can only last about 8 hours."
"But it's quite convenient to replace the battery."
Xu Chuan glanced at Zheng Hai and asked curiously: "Do you have any ideas?"
Zheng Hai was silent for a moment, nodded and said: "There are indeed some, but let's wait until the test is completed."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan didn't think much. He turned his head and looked at the patients undergoing clinical trials, observing them carefully.
Soon, the problem Xu Xiao mentioned before appeared in this test experiment.
In the laboratory, collision detection testing is ongoing, which is an experiment in which the collision conditions of the robotic arm are artificially set to test whether the collision detection function is normal.
Something strange happened to the installed mechanical leg. When it was avoiding the foam stick swept out from the test equipment, its output force was so great that the moment balance between the two legs was instantly broken.
Under the feedback of the mechanical leg, the soldier who underwent the experiment flew out crookedly and fell to the ground as if jumping on one leg.
Seeing this scene, the staff on standby immediately went up to turn off the equipment and then helped him up.
Xu Xiao pursed her lips, sighed and said, "This is one of the problems I mentioned before. During activities, the signals transmitted from the brain-computer interface chip to the bionic robotic arm will be abnormal."
"Sometimes it may be enlarged, and sometimes it may be reduced, which will cause the originally normal movement to become unbalanced."
"Just like Jiang Yu just now, under the force of the uncontrolled mechanical legs, the whole person was pushed to 'fly' and lost his balance."
"This kind of problem occurs at uneven times, but the probability is quite high. This is also the problem that worries me the most."