Supernumerary Robotic Limbs
darbelofflab.mit.edu
darbelofflab.mit.edu
(And hope that the technology doesn't lead to a new era of arms proliferation with the use of non-fission primaries)
The largest pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus, had a wingspan of ~10 meters and an estimated mass of 200–250kg [1]. I don’t know how much power they could produce, but it can’t have been more than a few horsepower given they weighed less than a half a horse.
A 30cc petrol motor will easily output 2–3 horsepower, and weighs less than 10 kg. Combine it with wings from a hang glider (similar wingspan, weight ~30kg), and as long as the powertrain isn’t too heavy (compressor + pneumatic artificial muscles?), it seems possible to build something light enough to carry a human.
Of course, it depends on the level of proficiency you want to reach. But it's already hard enough for people to eg learn to play Tennis, or learn to play Tennis with their left hand, when they normally use they right hand.
Driving, cars, flying airplanes (including sitting 10m+ off the ground in cockpit in a 747). Things like playing ice hockey, kite surfing etc. Highly complex activities (including interacting with several others and even plan ahead), often performed at speeds way beyond what a human can move about.
It's available on eg Nintendo Switch and a blast to control.
Sorta. Good series, though.
at the time it seemed pretty clever
I guess some people actually working in this field had similar ideas :D
Though tbh having those arms on an independent robot would be much more versatile.
Alternatively, they need to have their own support (so basically, an exoskeleton) because the human body is not up to the task of supporting all the extra weight.