Bionics

Look how far we've come in the last 35 years, and imagine where we'll be in 2056. What will the Olympic Games look like in an age of genetic editing, advanced bionics, augmented reality, advanced medicine, neural links and artificial intelligence?

Have you ever wondered why there aren't more drones out there with bionic hands? Us neither, but here we are, looking at the "Drone for Handy" by Youbionics, which places a pair of fully operational bionic hands in the air, ready to grab at things the might need grabbing.

​When he was an assistant professor at Princeton University, Michael McAlpine led the development of a 3D-printed bionic ear. Now an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, he has gone on to 3D-print a rudimentary bionic eye.

Youbionic started taking pre-orders for its 3D-printed robotic hand early last year. The company recently launched a new version, but hasn't stopped there. Looking to a near future where robotic enhancements make for improved humans, a two-handed prosthetic has been developed and gone up for sale.​

McLaren Applied Technologies was recently given the task of creating a new type of body armor to protect an unnamed billionaire from damaging their fragile ribcage following surgery. The result is the Invincible Shield.

When we first reported on the robotic hand made by Youbionic back in 2014, we indicated that the device was only a prototype and that the makers were looking for funding to bring it to market. Well, apparently they've gotten the funding, because Youbionic is now taking pre-orders for the device.