A paralyzed man walked with a brain-controlled exoskeleton

A man mostly paralyzed from the shoulders down has spent the last two years working with researchers to control an exoskeleton with his mind.

On Thursday, researchers at the University of Grenoble released results of the trial (funded by Clinatec), saying the work indicates that operating a four-limb robotic system could be feasible for patients with tetraplegia (loss of control of all four limbs). In the most complex use of the system, the patient, a 28-year-old french man identified as Thibault, walked.

The system is far from a patient-ready solution. Instead, the researchers' and patient's work training the algorithm that interprets brain signals and turns them into physical movement, indicates that technology like this is possible. Read more...