Rex, the world’s first bionic man was unveiled recently in
London's Science Museum. Nearly $1 million-worth of state-of-the-art limbs and
organs synthetic blood from Sheffield University, prosthetic legs and ankle
from MIT, retinas from Oxford University, artificial kidneys, pancreas and
spleens from University College London and artificial lungs from Swansea were
used for his creation.
Before knowing more about him, let’s get the definition of a
bionic man. A bionic man is a robot who has anatomical structures and
physiological processes that are replaced or enhanced by electronic or
mechanical components.
Rex has the face of a man. He is 6.5-feet tall with striking
brown eyes. He can sense objects in front of him with retinal implants and
cochlear implants to allow him to hear. He even has artificial organs
and synthetic blood. To make at least his face look more realistic, he has
glass eyes and is covered in artificial skin.
He incorporates some of the latest advances in mechanical
limbs, as well as a heart and lungs, an artificial pancreas, kidney, spleen, trachea
and a functional blood circulatory system.
He was jointly built with the help of over 18 companies and
universities and for the first time he gives tangible hope that replacing body
parts with man-made alternatives can finally be possible.
In the two centuries since Mary Shelley's Dr Frankenstein
brought a 'monster' to life, the subject has fascinated science fiction in
books, comics, film and TV till date.
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