The Vision
What if humans could have more than two arms? Dr Hexapus is a proof-of-concept for human augmentation - a wearable system that extends human capabilities with robotic limbs.
Collaboration
Developed in collaboration with Luca Mattioli and Etienne Burdet, this project explores the frontier of human-robot integration.
The System
Hardware
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Two Unitree robotic arms - powerful, precise, and agile
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Wearable backpack mount - 15 kg total weight
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Portable power system - enabling untethered operation
Control Modes
Joystick Control Direct teleoperation for precise movements
Trained Motion Pre-programmed sequences for common tasks
Hand Tracking Ultraleap camera tracks hand gestures for intuitive control - your hands control additional arms
Real-World Testing
The system was demonstrated at ICRA 2023 in Yokohama, Japan - one of the premier robotics conferences in the world:
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Worn continuously for 3 hours
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Interactive demonstrations with conference attendees
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Proof that powerful robotics can be truly wearable
Research Questions
Dr Hexapus explores fundamental questions:
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How do humans adapt to controlling additional limbs?
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What control strategies feel most intuitive?
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What tasks benefit most from extra arms?
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How can we reduce cognitive load of multi-limb control?
Applications
Industrial
Workers in manufacturing or assembly could benefit from extra hands for complex tasks.
Medical
Surgeons could have additional arms for holding instruments or providing steady assistance.
Assistive
People with mobility impairments could gain new capabilities through robotic augmentation.
The Future of Human Augmentation
Dr Hexapus represents a step toward a future where the boundary between human and machine becomes more fluid - not replacing human capability, but extending it.
From Marble Catchers to Extra Arms
Twenty years ago, an 8-year-old built a tool to reach marbles in a sewer. Now that same engineer builds systems that give humans extra arms. The journey continues - with each project building on everything that came before.