RISE of BIONICS: CIENCIA y TECNOLOGÍA para REINVENTAR el CUERPO HUMANO 🦾

¡Bienvenidos a WoS! 🦋

En este episodio, descubriremos cómo la Biónica está redefiniendo el futuro del cuerpo humano!

Hoy exploramos la Biónica, un campo fascinante que une biología, ingeniería, neurociencia, IA y robótica para recrear, restaurar o ampliar funciones del cuerpo humano. Inspirada en los mecanismos biológicos, esta disciplina desarrolla prótesis controladas por señales nerviosas, órganos artificiales y sistemas que interactúan con el sistema nervioso central. Ya no es ciencia ficción: es una realidad científica en constante evolución. En este episodio presentaremos 5 investigaciones que no solo recuperan funciones perdidas, sino que también expanden las capacidades del cuerpo, impulsando la autonomía y la integración hombre-máquina.

¡Empecemos!

🔹 Estudio #01: “Continuous neural control of a bionic limb restores biomimetic gait after amputation”
Inv. principal: Dr. Hyungeun Song
Institución: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
País: Estados Unidos
Resumen: Este estudio presenta una pierna biónica controlada en tiempo real por el sistema nervioso del usuario. Gracias a una innovadora técnica quirúrgica llamada AMI (Agonist–Antagonist Myoneural Interface), los investigadores reconectaron músculos residuales en personas amputadas, restaurando el diálogo entre cerebro y pierna robótica. Este avance representa una integración inédita entre neurociencia y robótica.
Fuente: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02994-9

🔹 Estudio #02: “A lightweight prosthetic hand with 19-DOF dexterity and human-level functions”
Inv. principal: Hao Yang (estudiante de doctorado)
Institución: Universidad de Ciencia y Tecnología de China
País: China
Resumen: Investigadores desarrollaron una prótesis de mano ultraligera con 19 grados de libertad y control por voz, que ofrece funciones comparables a una mano humana. Mediante 38 actuadores con memoria de forma y una arquitectura biomecánica inspirada en la anatomía real, permite realizar hasta 39 tipos de agarre, responder en múltiples idiomas y superar incluso ciertos rangos de movimiento de una mano biológica.
Fuente: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56352-5

🔹 Estudio #03: “Multi-receptor skin with highly sensitive tele-perception somatosensory”
Inv. principal: Dr. Yan Du
Institución: Academia China de Ciencias, Instituto de Nanoenergía y Nanosistemas
País: China
Resumen: Inspirada en el ornitorrinco, esta piel biónica es capaz de percibir objetos a distancia gracias a sensores multirreceptor y materiales con nanopartículas estructuradas. Combinada con IA, logra identificar materiales con más del 99% de precisión sin contacto físico, reconstruyendo formas en 3D y operando incluso en condiciones extremas.
Fuente: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp8681

🔹 Estudio #04: “A natural biomimetic prosthetic hand with neuromorphic tactile sensing for precise and compliant grasping”
Inv. principal: Dr. Sriramana Sankar
Institución: Universidad Johns Hopkins
País: Estados Unidos
Resumen: Este estudio presenta una mano robótica que combina estructura rígida, articulaciones blandas y sensores multicapa, replicando la mecánica y sensibilidad de una mano humana. Utiliza codificación neuromórfica para interpretar texturas y objetos con precisión, logrando más del 98% de aciertos en pruebas táctiles.
Fuente: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr9300

🔹 Estudio #05: “MyoGestic: EMG interfacing framework for decoding multiple spared motor dimensions in individuals with neural lesions”
Inv. principal: Raul Sîmpetru (estudiante de doctorado)
Institución: Universidad Friedrich-Alexander de Erlangen-Núremberg
País: Alemania
Resumen: El sistema “MyoGestic” permite recuperar movimientos a partir de señales musculares residuales, sin cirugía. Una pulsera con 32 sensores electromiográficos, combinada con IA, decodifica en tiempo real las intenciones de movimiento en personas con amputaciones o parálisis. Puede controlar prótesis, ortesis, exoesqueletos y hasta videojuegos, demostrando una versatilidad excepcional y un impacto directo en la autonomía.
Fuente: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads9150

Gracias por estar del otro lado y darle fuerza a este proyecto 💥
Nos vemos en el próximo episodio! 🤙🏻

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👇🏻 Chapters:

00:00 – Intro and theoretical framework
01:23 – Welcome by Javi
02:32 – Study #01: Bionic Leg with Real-Time Neural Control
04:44 – Study #02: Prosthetic Hand with 19 Degrees of Freedom
07:18 – Study #03: Bionic Skin with Remote Perception
09:40 – Study #04: Robotic Hand with Neuromorphic Touch
12:09 – Study #05: MyoGestic: Motor Control via EMG and AI
14:44 – Outro, next program, and farewell

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Today we’re going to dive into one of the most fascinating fields of applied science: bionics. This interdisciplinary discipline combines biology, engineering, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and robotics with a clear purpose: to recreate, restore, or even expand the biological functions of the human body through cutting-edge technology. Its guiding principle is as simple as it is powerful: to draw inspiration from the body’s mechanisms to develop technological solutions that imitate, enhance, or integrate them. We’re talking about prostheses that respond to nerve signals, artificial organs that replicate vital functions, and systems that connect directly to the central nervous system. Bionics is no longer science fiction; it’s a rapidly evolving scientific reality that advances daily in research laboratories and biomedical centers around the world. In this episode, we’re going to explore research that is revolutionizing the relationship between the body and technology. This work not only allows us to recover lost motor and sensory functions but also expands the limits of the human body, opening new frontiers for autonomy, artificial perception, and human-machine integration. Welcome to Works of Science… Today we’ll discover how bionics is redefining the future of the human body! Hello friends! How are you? I hope you’re doing well! Welcome to a new program on Works of Science. This time, we’ll talk about a technology that seems like something out of science fiction, but is a reality: bionics. In this program, we’ll show how electronics, robotics, neuroscience, and, in many cases, artificial intelligence merge or blend to reinvent the human body. As usual, on this channel, we’ll present five scientific papers that will empirically demonstrate how bionics is currently evolving and how this technology is helping people—millions of people— improve their sensitivity, movement, autonomy, and, crucially, their self-esteem. Before we begin, and as always, I’d like to say hello to my colleague Ada. How are you? Is everything okay? [Ada speaking]: Hello everyone, I hope you’re doing well. I’m great, thank you! I’m super excited about this topic. Bionics represents an extraordinary bridge between biology and technology. It’s one of the most exciting areas of applied science because it transforms real lives with cutting-edge solutions. I’m ready to get started! Perfect! Don’t miss today’s program, and let’s get started! Regarding the first research project, it was led by Dr. Hyungeun Song and his team at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, United States. As we know, after a leg amputation, it’s very difficult to walk again. In this context, these scientists have developed something that science has been pursuing for many years: a bionic leg that behaves almost like a biological one. Let’s take a look at this research! This groundbreaking research presents a bionic leg that is controlled directly by the user’s nervous system and in real time. How did they achieve this? With an innovative surgical technique called “AMI” or “Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface,” which reconnects muscles in the amputated leg to restore dialogue between the brain and the body. By combining this type of surgery with muscle sensors and a motorized robotic leg, the team created a neuroprosthetic interface that allows the user to move the prosthesis as if it were part of their own body. The study involved 14 below -knee amputees, seven of them with this advanced surgery and seven with conventional surgery . The results were striking. Those with restored muscle connectivity walked 41% faster with much more natural and symmetrical gait mechanics. They even adapted better to complex terrain like stairs and slopes. And there’s more. During obstacle tests, such as lifting the foot to avoid a barrier, only those with the nerve-controlled prosthesis increased ankle movement at exactly the right moment. In contrast, The others barely reacted. This is key to avoiding falls and injuries. And how much control is needed to achieve this? Just 18% of normal nerve signals were enough to activate this entire control system. This suggests that the human body has an incredible capacity to adapt and learn, even after an amputation. In conclusion, this advance not only improves prosthetic technology but also redefines what we understand by human-machine integration. Today, a robotic leg can not only imitate movement but also become a living extension of the body. Well, I hope you enjoyed this research, and regarding the second, I tell you that it was led by doctoral student Hao Yang and his team at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, China. Let me put it in context. Our hands have 23 degrees of freedom, and current bionic prostheses fail to imitate that dexterity. In this context, these researchers developed a very promising prosthesis with 19 degrees of freedom and with functions very similar to human ones. Let’s take a look at this research! This team of researchers developed a revolutionary prosthesis. It’s lightweight and offers dexterity almost equal to that of a human hand thanks to its 19 degrees of freedom, controlled by 38 shape-memory alloy actuators. These actuators, similar to tiny artificial muscles, change shape when heated or cooled, moving the fingers with great precision. Each of the five fingers and also the wrist can move independently. To achieve this, the team designed a complex system of cables, sensors, and mechanisms inspired by the real anatomy of human fingers, including swinging, bending, and rotating movements. All of this is connected to a central unit that makes decisions in real time, completing a precise and reactive control loop. But the most surprising thing is how this hand is controlled by voice. Through a voice recognition system, the user can simply say what gesture they want to make, and the prosthesis executes it in milliseconds. The system works in more than 60 languages and responds even in noisy environments thanks to an AI-trained recognition module. The research team validated this prosthesis with a 60-year-old woman with a right-hand amputee. In formal tests, it was able to perform everything from Chinese sign language gestures to fine tasks such as combing her hair, writing, or opening jars. The system was able to successfully execute 39 different grip modes, including some new ones not even included in traditional classifications. In comparative tests, the prosthesis’s movements and ranges of action even surpassed those of a real human hand in certain directions. Furthermore, it can lift up to 2.5 kg of weight, which covers 92% of the objects an average person handles in their daily life. In conclusion, this development represents a notable scientific leap forward in biomechanics, AI, and medical robotics, but above all, it restores the independence and dignity of amputees. Regarding today’s third investigation, I would like to share that it was led by Dr. Yan Du and his team from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This team of researchers developed a bionic skin inspired by the platypus that is capable of perceiving objects at a distance and detecting or recognizing materials using artificial intelligence. Don’t miss this research. Let’s see it! In the field of bionics, one of the greatest challenges is emulating the extraordinary sensitivity of human skin, designing artificial skin that not only responds to touch, but is also capable of perceiving objects before touching them. Until recently, it seemed like a science fiction concept. However, this team of scientists made it a reality. Inspired by a unique animal, the platypus, these researchers developed a technology that redefines the limits of artificial perception. This curious mammal has sensors in its beak that detect both electrical signals and mechanical pressure. Thanks to this combination, it can… locate their prey even in total darkness. Inspired by this biological system, researchers created a multi-receptor skin that mimics this dual sensory capacity and enables what they call remote sensing. This bionic skin is made of flexible materials and contains inorganic nanoparticles arranged in a structured manner. These particles improve the capture of electrical signals in the air, and with the help of AI, the skin can process these signals to recognize objects, materials, and even reconstruct their shape in 3D. Without the need for physical contact, the system achieves over 99% accuracy in identifying materials and a record sensitivity far superior to any other sensor of its kind. In fact, it can detect objects more than 15 centimeters away and can also operate in extreme conditions such as high temperatures and humidity. With a machine learning system, the skin not only detects the environment but also learns and improves over time. In conclusion, this is an extraordinary advance in bionics, an artificial skin that combines remote sensing, touch sensitivity, and learning capabilities. A true technological sixth sense that could transform everything from medical robotics to the smart prosthetics of the future. Regarding today’s fourth research project, I’d like to share that it was led by Dr. Sriramana Sankar and his team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. These researchers developed a robotic hand capable of recognizing textures and objects as if it were a human hand. It uses multi-layer sensors and neuromorphic coding, allowing it to sense its surroundings with high precision. Let’s take a look at that research! This team of scientists developed a robotic hand that combines the best of both worlds: the strength of rigid systems and the delicacy of soft robots, into a single hybrid structure. The design of this biomimetic hand is based on the logic of the human hand. It has a rigid bone structure, but soft joints made of flexible silicone allow it to bend naturally and adapt to different objects. Each finger can move independently thanks to three pneumatic joints. This gives it unprecedented dexterity for a robot of this type, with a strength three times greater than that of a traditional soft finger. But what truly distinguishes this prosthesis is its sensory capacity. Researchers integrated three layers of tactile sensors into the fingertips , each inspired by a different type of receptor in human skin. A surface layer detects light contact, another registers deformation, and the deepest one captures high-frequency vibrations. All this sensory information is converted into neuromorphically coded electrical signals, emulating the way our nervous system transmits stimuli. To do this, they used computational models that mimic the behavior of neurons, creating electrical pulses that reflect what the artificial skin is sensing. In texture discrimination tests, it was able to differentiate 26 different surfaces with an accuracy of over 98%. What’s more, when holding 15 everyday objects, it was able to recognize them almost perfectly, exceeding 99% accuracy. This breakthrough opens the door to a future where people with amputations can regain a sensory connection with their environment. In conclusion, the combination of soft robotics, rigid structure, multi-layer sensors, and neuromorphic coding marks a turning point in the design of advanced prosthetics. This isn’t just a hand that grasps; it’s a hand that feels, and over time, it could become indistinguishable from a real human hand. Regarding today’s latest research, it was led by PhD student Raul Sîmpetru and his team at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. This team of researchers developed a novel system that allows people to regain lost movement through residual muscle signals. It uses a bracelet with artificial intelligence and sensors that allows people who, for example, have suffered amputations or who have reduced mobility, to improve their quality of life and autonomy. Let’s take a look at this research! These scientists designed “MyoGestic,” a system that allows people with neurological injuries to regain control over movements through electrical signals from the body without the need for surgery. The key lies in a special bracelet with 32 electromyographic sensors that detect the activity of motor neurons that are still functioning, even when there is no longer visible movement. These sensors are placed on the muscles of the forearm or leg and connect to AI software capable of decoding the user’s movement intentions in real time. During the experiments, people with different conditions participated, four with spinal cord injuries and three with amputations. Despite having lost mobility years ago, these people were able to regain control of various motor gestures in less than 10 minutes. The system allowed them to control a virtual hand, an orthosis, a commercial prosthesis, or even an on-screen cursor, demonstrating remarkable versatility. The operation is intuitive. Two hands are displayed on the screen. One guides the movements the user should attempt, and the other reflects in real time what the system interprets from the electromyographic signals. The AI is trained with just a few seconds of data per gesture and then allows precise control of four to five different motor dimensions, such as closing the hand, flexing the thumb, or moving a specific finger. Furthermore, the system was tested in a wide variety of scenarios. It was used to operate a high-end bionic hand, control an exoskeleton, move a cursor with the leg, and even play video games using the forearm muscles without the need for a keyboard or joystick. In conclusion, MyoGestic reveals that it is possible to recover hidden motor functions and marks a new advance in the connection between the body and technology. Its open and accessible nature positions it as a key tool for promoting personalized prostheses that improve the autonomy and quality of life of those who have lost mobility. Well, we have reached the end. We hope you enjoyed the content and the research, and if so, we ask you to please give us a like and subscribe, click the bell to stay informed about upcoming WoS videos, and join our WhatsApp channel, where we’re all connected and where you’ll find the latest news. Thank you very much in advance! Regarding the next program, we’ll talk about “big data” in the Anthropocene era. As always, on this channel, we’ll present five scientific papers showing how data science allows us to better understand and visualize the impact of human activity on Earth, predict complex climate events, and, ultimately, protect life on Earth. Don’t miss it! Well, that’s all. Thank you so much for making it this far. I send you a big hug, and we’ll see you next time with more Works of Science! Bye!