Enhancing human bodies with extra robotic arms and fingers: The Neural\n Resource Allocation Problem

Abstract

The emergence of robot-based body augmentation promises exciting innovations\nthat will inform robotics, human-machine interaction, and wearable electronics.\nEven though augmentative devices like extra robotic arms and fingers in many\nways build on restorative technologies, they introduce unique challenges for\nbidirectional human-machine collaboration. Can humans adapt and learn to\noperate a new limb collaboratively with their biological limbs without\nsacrificing their physical abilities? To successfully achieve robotic body\naugmentation, we need to ensure that by giving a person an additional\n(artificial) limb, we are not in fact trading off an existing (biological) one.\nIn this manuscript, we introduce the "Neural Resource Allocation" problem,\nwhich distinguishes body augmentation from existing robotics paradigms such as\nteleoperation and prosthetics. We discuss how to allow the effective and\neffortless voluntary control of augmentative devices without compromising the\nvoluntary control of the biological body. In reviewing the relevant literature\non extra robotic fingers and limbs we critically assess the range of potential\nsolutions available for the "Neural Resource Allocation" problem. For this\npurpose, we combine multiple perspectives from engineering and neuroscience\nwith considerations from human-machine interaction, sensory-motor integration,\nethics and law. Altogether we aim to define common foundations and operating\nprinciples for the successful implementation of motor augmentation.\n