Robo Drummer

A researcher at Georgia Tech has come up with a cool invention for disabled drummers.

Of course, drummers using technology to overcome disabilities is nothing new, as any fan of Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen knows well. After losing an arm in an auto accident, Allen compensated with electronics and pedals to make up for his lost arm. He (literally) did not miss a beat.

Now Gil Weinberg, a professor at Georgia Tech, has invented a device that allows an amputee drummer to hold two sticks in one prosthetic hand. The player controls one of the sticks with muscle movements, while the robot controlling the other stick senses what's going on and responds accordingly. Amazing stuff!

Since some part of the arm is needed to control one of the sticks, it's probably not something Rick Allen can use -- yet. But with the strides folks like Professor Weinberg is making, I figure it's only a matter of time.