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Posted by RaJ on May 29th, 2008
By all means read the CNN story, but I think the headline says it all: Monkeys control robots with their minds.
If, like me, you now have visions of monkey-controlled, marauding red-eyed robots destroying everything in their path, have no fear. I am sure this technology will only be used for good.
I tracked down our illustrious Radioactive Jam staff member and resident meta-geneticist Dr. Francis Enstine (”Don’t call me Frank.” “Okay.”) and asked him about this monkey-brained robot research project. Dr. Enstine (”Call me Frank.” “Okay.”) seemed quite excited about it. He said, and I quote, “Plausible deniability!” then suddenly remembered he had an urgent appointment “somewhere” to do “something.”
Robots controlled by the minds of monkeys, my feiends. It doesn’t get any better than this in the radioactive realms. 
While the CNN article linked above was released today, the technology has apparently been around for awhile. In fact, this article from November 2000 adds a truly disturbing fascinating twist: monkey brain signals - transmitted over the internet - controlled a robot arm 600 miles away.
Let’s review, shall we? Monkeys can control robots using their brains, and thanks to the magic of the internet they can do so from hundreds of miles away.
I heart technology, don’t you?
A grateful radioactive hat tip to blog and Twitter feiend Omar for bringing the CNN story to our attention. Thanks!
Ook! destruction λ Monkeys λ remote control λ robots
May 29th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Bad Robot
May 30th, 2008 at 12:11 am
[…] Radioactive Jam, our Barbie-sparkle-pony-princess-poptart-eating man in the field, send us this little gem about monkeys that can control robots with their minds. Let’s consider this again: […]
May 30th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Well - monkeys can control robotic arms hardwired into them. I guess the advance is that they can control the robotic arm to feed themselves, apparently a pretty complicated set of movements. Not quite mind control of free roaming evil bots (BWAAAH-HAH-HAH-EEK-EEK-HOOT-HOOT).
There was an earlier experimental trial with a human that was also successful - hopeful work goal is better prosthetics for amputee/paralysis victims.
But still - poor monkeys!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Glad to help. I saw the headline and immediately checked the article’s byline to see if you wrote it. It seemed right up your alley.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 am
Let me get this straight: do the monkeys control the robots with their own monkey-minds, or do the monkeys control the robots with the robots’ minds? To me it is an important, even vital, distinction.
(Ah, it feels good to be back in the hairsplitting saddle.)
June 7th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I think I may have just figured out what was going on with my students yesterday.