Sonar Tongue
The tongue is considered one of the strongest muscles in the human body, but it’s strength is not what researchers at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition are using it for. The “Brain Port” is a new invention that would allow, particularity military, 360 degree vision at night and sense sonar in their heads while maintaining normal vision underwater. Sounds pretty crazy.
The FIHM enlisted the help of the blind for testing and they discovered that test subjects were able to find doorways with obstructions, and caught balls. They also tested underwater divers and they were able to locate small objects at the bottom without any difficulty.
They were fitted with a thin red strip of plastic that connects to the Brain Port and to the tongue. There are 144 microelectrodes transmitting information through nerve fibers to the brain. Dr. Anil Raj, lead scientist, believes that this new device will be a useful instrument for the military and rangers reducing the size of current sonar equipment and keeping hands free. There are also plans to create an infrared tongue vision for Army Rangers.
They plan on demonstrating the Brain Port to the Navy and Marine Corps in May.
The tongue is considered one of the strongest muscles in the human body, but it’s strength is not what researchers at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition are using it for. The “Brain Port” is a new invention that would allow, particularity military, 360 degree vision at night and sense sonar in their heads while maintaining normal vision underwater. Sounds pretty crazy.
The FIHM enlisted the help of the blind for testing and they discovered that test subjects were able to find doorways with obstructions, and caught balls. They also tested underwater divers and they were able to locate small objects at the bottom without any difficulty.
They were fitted with a thin red strip of plastic that connects to the Brain Port and to the tongue. There are 144 microelectrodes transmitting information through nerve fibers to the brain. Dr. Anil Raj, lead scientist, believes that this new device will be a useful instrument for the military and rangers reducing the size of current sonar equipment and keeping hands free. There are also plans to create an infrared tongue vision for Army Rangers.
They plan on demonstrating the Brain Port to the Navy and Marine Corps in May.