You have this idea for a project, then think, I dont know a thing about this.
The algorithm learns from each attempt, so the arm can be trained over time.
The patient needs surgery to get those nerves closer to the skin, or to train individual muscles.
Current robotic prosthetics can cost up to $100,000, says Choudhry.
Theyre advanced, but whos going to be able to afford them?
To Choudhry and Khans knowledge, this is the first system of computer vision in a prosthetic hand.
Khan feels there should be more of a push for integrating hardware projects into machine learning.
By collaborating across fields, youre much more likely to find new applications.
You are definitely not limited by where youre at in your career or education.
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It was a hackathon that gave Choudhry and Khan that push to collaborate.
It was at one of these hackathons that Choudhry and Khan started building the smartARM.
The smartARM uses Microsoft Azures computer vision, machine learning, and cloud storage technologies.
Choudhry and Khan entered these hackathons with a lot of knowledge.
But much of it wasnt from their undergrad courses; both had volunteered to help with professors research projects.
That taught him to be independent, and to go out and do his own projects.
Find a project you really want to do, says Choudhry.
For me, its asking whywhy something is done the way it is right now.
For the smartARM, Choudhry and Khan talked to amputees about their experiences and needs.
The kind of project that excites you might look intimidating.
It might look impossible.
But to really know, you have to break it into pieces.
Break down your project
Choudhry compares complex projects to building with Lego.
Any complicated construction is still just tiny blocks attached to each other.
And you dont have to make those blocks yourself.
Khan points to thePandas Python library, an open-source set of tools for analyzing data with Python.
Because they focus on recognizing patterns and adapting, machine learning algorithms are surprisingly versatile across different applications.
Soall kinds of existing codemight apply to your project.
Of course, first you’re gonna wanna learn to code.
You are definitely not limited by where youre at in your career or education, says Choudhry.
To learn the basics, you canattend a boot camporteach yourself.
Choudhry recommends the free classes and tutorials atCoursera.
you’re able to get an Arduino-compatible kit for$35 on Amazonor at a hobby store.
Choudhry started his robotics education by learning how to control a simple motor with an Arduino.
Lets say you wanted to build a robotic arm, he says.
First you look at your material needsyou need an Arduino, motors, and a hand.
Thats three smaller projects.
Can you 3D print the parts of the hand?
Can you program the motors with the Arduino, and make connections between the parts?
If you cant yet, now you at least know which things you oughta learn.
And thats where Choudhry and Khan are.
They hope to develop smartARM into a market-ready product, but theres still a long way to go.
The history of technology is littered with promising inventions that couldnt beat competing technologies.
