Teenage Student Wins ATLAB's Gulf 3D Printing Olympiad with 3D Printed Mind-Controlled Bionic Arm.

Over 75 student teams recently competed in the first ever Gulf 3D Printing Olympiad, organized by technology-based learning solutions company ATLAB. The competition was aimed at inspiring young entrepreneurs by fueling their innovation and creativity through 3D printing. The theme was “Design Your First Consumer Product” and inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of innovation. The competition was open to all students between the ages of 10-25 residing in the GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf). Participants were asked to design and print an innovative product, preferably something that could help people in their everyday lives. A 14-year-old student’s mind-blowing, and mind-controlled, creation was selected as the “Best Innovative Project” at the competition. Rishabh Java, from GEMS Millennium School-Sharjah, designed and 3D printed a low-cost, functional 3D printed bionic forearm. What’s more amazing is that the user can control the arm with his or her mind! It was built using Electroencephalography (EEG), an electrophysical monitoring method used to record electrical activity of the brain. The arm can perform simple tasks, such as shaking hands and picking up objects, making it a great replacement for patients with disabled hands. The bionic arm would allow them to regain their sense of touch by replacing their functionless arm with the bionic one, which can interface directly with the nervous system. continue