An artificial leg that mimics the way real legs move will let amputees walk
further over difficult terrain without getting tired, its developers say. The
prosthetic legs available today, such as the one worn by sprinter Ray Marlon
Shirley at this week’s Paralympics, are passive. For example, they
rely on inertia to bend and flex joints. These limbs need more energy input from
the wearer than normal walking. But researchers at Sandia National Laboratories
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are building sensors into strategic parts of their
prosthesis and using hydraulically powered joints to control precisely how the
leg moves. The…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Life
New Scientist recommends a brilliant take on the evolution of birds
Culture

Environment
Striking photos show how sands are encroaching on oases in the Sahara
Regulars

Comment
Think you have a good sense of humour? So do most people…
Regulars

Comment
Sci-fi horror film Backrooms is a triumph for its 20-year-old director
Culture
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
2
Millions of fossil whale bones found in deep-ocean ‘necropolis’
3
A nuclear war between India and Pakistan could destroy the ozone layer
4
Robots are about to overtake armed soldiers as the deciders of war
5
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
6
Unpicking endometriosis reveals how it affects more than the pelvis
7
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies
8
Think you have a good sense of humour? So do most people…
9
Why you need to future-proof your brain in middle age and how to start
10
Mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the Atlantic suggests the AMOC is weakening