Kenyan inventors created a bio-robotic prosthetic arm that is controlled by brain signal.
Although the invention is not new it is quite a unique and interesting invention. The two Kenyan inventors had to drop out of university due to lack of means to pay tuition fees. This did not seem to be a hindrance for these robotics enthusiasts.
They created a robotic arm made of several materials, including recycled wood, and controlled by brain signals. These signals are converted into electrical current by a bio-potential headset “NeuroNode”. This electrical current allows the arm to move vertically and horizontally.
“It is a biorobotic upper limb arm prosthesis that uses brain signals for the hand to move it according to your wishes. This biorobotic hand uses these brain signals, amplifies them, filters them and converts them into electrical current, which is further pushed to the robot’s circuitry, which means it can convert users’ thoughts into movement.”
The boys refused to let the expensive school fees that forced them to drop out of college stop them from realizing their dream to help their communities.
Their workshop is in Kiambu county in Kikuyu, Kenya, north of the capital Nairobi, where the innovative technology exists for people living with disabilities.
The next step for the two young inventors is to find the necessary funds for larger scale production of their invention.
Kenya previously was a beneficiary of such tech discards from developed nations. However, these electronics did not last long, thus leading to a flood of electronic waste that pollutes the environment. The duo believes that their innovations are also helping tackle the e-waste problem.
