In a giant leap for both simian and humankind, monkeys at the University of Pittsburgh, have been taught to manipulate robotic limbs. The control comes by way of an implant that is the width of a human hair. Using the robotic arm, monkeys are able to reach for, pick up and feed themselves marshmallows and pieces of fruit.

Our immediate goal is to make a prosthetic device for people with total paralysis. Ultimately, our goal is to better understand brain complexity. - Andrew Schwartz (research leader), professor of neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh

Two rhesus macaques were able to learn to control a robotic arm placed next to their shoulder using a joystick. In the next stage, their arms were restrained and they were implanted with the brain probe. From there, they learned to control the robotic arm with their brains.

The results were quite staggering with one monkey grabbing and eating food with a 61% success rate after just two days and a second monkey hitting the 78% mark after 13 days; next stop, monkey-robot world domination. [The Australian]

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