Scientists have re-installed the tail that humans finally lost through evolution! Is it necessary to install this tail?

Scientists think that no, humans still need to have a tail.

So in 2019, researchers at Keio University in Japan created a long tail called Arque . Fasten the belt that matches the tail, and you will have a 1-meter-long tail accessory. Although this tail is not furry, it looks cute because it twists by itself.

The tail twists naturally as the person moves. ｜Keio University Graduate School of Media Design

Junichi Nabeshima, a member of the research team, mentioned that they really feel that this bionic tail can add some new functions to our bodies and make some contributions to the field of human enhancement.

The inspiration for this tail does not come from common mammals, but from seahorses. The tail of a seahorse is not cylindrical, but a square prism. Its tail does not swing with the water like a fish's tail, but is hard and more like a "fingers" that can flexibly grasp nearby objects, even prey.

Some researchers have made a digital model of the seahorse's tail. There are 36 square joints on the seahorse's tail, and each square joint is composed of 4 L-shaped "armor plates" , which not only ensure the flexibility of the tail, but also are very strong and have gripping ability.

Why is the seahorse's tail square? | Reference

The bionic seahorse tail Arque is inspired by this square tail, just like a flexible artificial spine. The central axis is the pneumatic "muscle", and the outer side is the square protection device, that is, the vertebrae. Moreover, these vertebrae are modular so that the weight can be adjusted according to each person's weight. Because in the researchers' conception, the tail needs to account for 5% of the body weight.

So, what is the use of this tail that can adapt to everyone?

A cat's tail plays an important role in helping them maintain balance. It is an extension of the spine. In one study, researchers watched a video of cats walking on a log bridge and found that they kept adjusting their balance by swinging their tails. Similarly, this would have the same effect with an artificial tail.

Arque has a sensor on its tail. When you bend down, the tail will automatically curl up, and when you stand up, the tail will automatically droop. If you turn left, the tail will turn right...

It’s actually a good tool for maintaining balance. ｜Keio University Graduate School of Media Design

This accessory may be of great use to patients recovering from neurological or orthopedic injuries, or the elderly. Because they need to do rehabilitation exercises on a treadmill, and a portable and adaptable tail may help them maintain balance. In addition... the researchers also thought that this tail could also be a game accessory. For example, if you have a tail in a game, you can deliberately let your tail swing back and forth to affect your balance...

The tail is also a wearable device that can be used as a gaming accessory. ｜Keio University Graduate School of Media Design

This isn’t the first time people have tried to put tails on things! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have even given a quadruped robot a tail that works in tandem with its four legs, making it more stable and able to move in the wild and in extreme terrain.

South Korean scientists also installed a tail on a "robot dragon", and the grasshoppers were scared away when they saw it. The researchers suspect that although dinosaurs cannot fly, the long tail feathers play a "repelling" role, achieving a visually frightening effect.

A project with the concept of "enhancing the human body" also specially designed another electric cat tail (and cat ears). This tail needs to be used in conjunction with a brain wave sensor. As the user's brain waves change, such as concentration, happiness, etc., the tail and ears will begin to perform specific activities, such as shaking and swaying happily.

However, a cat's tail can express complex emotions that may not be replicated by an artificial tail. A cat's tail is full of secret messages . If the tail looks soft and flowing, it generally means that the cat is relaxed. If the tail is puffy or erect, it means that the cat may be excited!

References

[1]https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaa6683

[2]https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3306214.3338573

[3]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432897001010#:~:text=Freeze%2Dframe%20videotape%20analysis%20revealed,to%20remain%20aboard%20the%20beam.

[4] https://neurowear.com/

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Source: Bringing Science Home (id: steamforkids)

Author: Skin

Editor: Yinuo

Proofread by Xu Lai and Lin Lin