Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, England, where he carries out research in artificial intelligence, control, robotics and biomedical engineering.

As a part of the cybernetics group, Warwick has carried out a series of pioneering experiments involving the neuro-surgical implantation of a device into the median nerves of his left arm. This provided a link between his nervous system and a computer, offering a prototype system for a range of potential applications.

He has been successful with the first extra-sensory (ultrasonic) input for a human and with the first purely electronic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans. He is currently working on a new project involving the implementation of neural tissue, to provide a feedback loop from the tissue to a small robot called miobot.

His research has been widely discussed, from news media coverage,to special intrest groups including the US White House Presidential Council on BioEthics.

Click to see movies, Quicktime 7 is required.

If you have any comments or questions about these clips, you can visit the forum.

 

research (15.1 MB)

An overview of research carried out within the cybernetics group.

 

minibots (8.6 MB)

Describing Miobots, where robots are controlled by neural tissue.

 

electrodes (12.8 MB):

Showing scars from an operation where electrodes were inserted into his arm.

 

lawnmower robot (11.4 MB):

An introduction to the lab, and a lawnmover which can cut an image into grass.

 

robot kit (16 MB):

Cybot is a robot kit sold with the magazine which had a huge market in Japan.

 

electrodes demo (13.6 MB):

Showing the electrodes which were attached to nerve fibres.

 

Mogui (20.9 MB):

A sensor driven robot for testing interactions with people.

 

minibots demo (13.5 MB):

Sensors on a small robot link to neural tissue a culture which controls the movement of the robot.

 

ethics (13.5 MB):

What are the ethical implications of the treatment of robots if they are partially biological?

 

implants (40.7 MB)

Describing implant technology for tracking and monitoring, and how this application was discussed in the news.

 

public understanding (14.9 MB)

How research aims are sometimes misunderstand by the public.

 

Intervew by Elio on 8th May 2007.