Bionics now: Can we build a ‘Six Million Dollar Man?’

Bionics, like robots, have captured our imaginations since the word was conceived in the late ‘50s. By the time the ‘80s and ‘90s rolled in, we had a whole slew of movies, literature, and even cartoons to keep the dream of doing great things by combining man and machine. Bionics is actually a broad subject, though the most popular interpretation is having machines mimic biological organisms or functions.

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Those military drones that run like dogs—creepy as that may look—are possible because science has found a way to mimic the complex systems of four-legged animals and apply programs and algorithms to an actual machine, allowing said drone to navigate difficult terrain and move quickly.

Even now, a lot of people are benefiting from advancements in bionics. Prosthetics have made men and women walk again and now, actual functioning limbs controlled by the brain are being created to help the handicapped do more than just have a replacement arm or leg. The past few years saw war veterans undergo operations to prepare their nerves and muscles to receive arms and legs that receive neural input. Yes, being able to rotate your bionic hand 360 degrees might be a cool party trick, but for people who have lost limbs, these new generation prosthetics are their key to getting more of their previous functionality back. Beyond that, science is breaking new ground in terms of internal organs.

Something like a heart, for example, have been given the bionic treatment. There are people now that are enjoying life with their family and loved ones devoid of a biological heart. Waiting for a heart transplant can take years, and experiments in developing bionic hearts have reached the level of being very real and surprisingly affordable and safe. Bionic eyes have been a mainstream thing for some time already, and cochlear implants restore hearing to the deaf.

When we think bionics, we think of ways where the biological and mechanical meet and interface. Readying nerve endings via surgery or electrodes are certainly logical and have been the go-to way for scientists, but wireless connectivity is currently being developed and would be available in the very near future. Basically, neural interfaces are implanted onto nerve clusters, which would then transmit signals to the prosthetic, allowing movement without the need for paste-on electrodes that can potentially irritate the stump and surrounding skin.

With advancements coming it at great speed, is it possible to build a Six Million Dollar Man? In the popular ‘70s TV show, actor Lee Majors played an astronaut that was severely injured in a flight accident. Science, like a fairy godmother, stepped in to save him, granting him bionic gifts: his eyes can see in infrared and zoom, arms that can stop a bulldozer, and legs than can outrun a car. His endurance and durability was also enhanced, and the price tag came at around six million dollars. While the price for implants like these would certainly cost a lot more (thank you, inflation!), scientists are also skeptical at the extra superhuman abilities the Six Million Dollar Man package provides.

For example, running as fast as a cheetah on two legs may not be the most efficient and safest means of beating the traffic. Our bionic legs may be able to handle the friction and load of increased speed, but our biological components can’t, which will be damaged if we try to beat the traffic via running fast. The same goes for increased arm strength. You may be able to lift a car over your head thanks to super bionic arms, but the strain on your non-bionic core and legs may just prove fatal. We squishy humans may need a bit more than isolated bionics to be able to achieve TV show-worthy feats of speed and strength.

But that’s not to say that we can’t come to that point. Scientists believe that it’s only a matter of time before implants and prosthetics will be commonplace and much more affordable (since 3D printing is already a thing) and the technology for life-saving bionics will be part of the human race in the near future. Some even speculate that bionic implants will be like smartphones in that apps can be installed to boost the experience of sight. Sooner, rather than later, bionic eye apps like infrared, video recording, and optical zoom will be available.

And while some are ready to embrace bionic enhancement, there are those who would rather stay a squishy human on the inside. That doesn’t mean they can have bionic enhancements in the form of exoskeletons that they can fully control with their brains. Yes, think Iron Man but with a neural link up. Your strength, speed, and durability are all increased without the need for surgery and without fear of messing up your biological parts. For those who can’t walk, an exosuit may be the ticket for mobility. In the field of construction, these suits can help in areas where heavy—but precise—lifting is required.

As cool as that sounds, bionics is still part of emerging science, that exciting part of the industry where breakthroughs are made every day which can positively affect our way of life in the future. We may only think we’re ready for affordable enhancements, but we also have to be wary of possible consequences that science fiction turning into science fact could spell. Scientists are confident we could build a Six Million Dollar Man, but we need more time to prepare to cross this threshold when we get there.