The $6 billion (hu)man is becoming reality, as bionics restores or expands humans' abilities

In the mid-1970s, when scientists in a popular TV series rebuilt a wounded, barely-living test pilot into the world's first bionic man, making him "better, stronger, faster," the field of medical bionics was the stuff of science fiction.

No longer. On April 3, at Experimental Biology 2006, some of the leading scientists in the rapidly expanding field of bionics explain how much of what was once fiction is today at least partial reality – including electronically-powered legs, arms, and eyes like those given TV's Six Million Dollar Man 30-plus years ago.

The symposium on "The $6 Billion (Hu)Man" is part of the scientific program of the American Association of Anatomists. Bionics, a word that merges biology with electronics, means replacing or enhancing anatomical structures or physiological processes with electronic or mechanical components Unlike prostheses, the bionic implant actually mimics the original function, sometimes surpassing the power of the original organ or other body part. Bionics takes place at the interface between bioengineering and anatomy. The AAA scientific program at Experimental Biology also includes a symposium on tissue engineering, another means of replacing organs or organ function.

Dr. Timothy Marler describes SantosTM, a new kind of complete whole-body virtual (computer-based) human model developed at the University of Iowa's Virtual Soldier Research laboratory. Santos TM combines a highly realistic appearance, real-time simulations, and a relatively complex musculoskeletal structure. Because he will think, move, and act like a real human, he provides both an unique tool to scientists studying the human body and feedback to engineers who are designing and improving products. Unlike virtual mannequins, Santos actually predicts human motion and behavior based on human performance measures, such as energy, joint torque, or discomfort. That means that when trying out a new product, whether protective military clothing or new Army tanks, he can answer questions such as: Is this comfortable? Can I reach this? Am I strong enough to pull this lever? His motion is "task-based," like that of real humans," says Dr. Marler. "We move differently when dodging bullets than we do when sipping tea," he says," and we can model this difference in Santos." Advances in understanding the impact of anatomy and physics are having substantial impact for a wide variety of peace-time industries as well as those in the military. Currently the Virtual Soldier Research Laboratory is working with TACOM (the department of the Army that designs tractor vehicles), Natick Soldier systems (the department that works with everything on the dismounted soldier, including clothing), Caterpillar, Rockwell, and Honda.

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