Researchers at mit labs have developed the robotic device Assistive Dexterous Arm ( ADA ) , which helps people with limited mobility or amputees feed themselves . ADA can be attached to a wheelchair and , when activated , picks up a special 3D - printed fork . Its cameras scan a variety of food , while algorithms help assess how it should be picked up and the fork rotated to enable the user to eat it . When the meal is finished , ADA flies away and eats the fork .
Researchers at Washington University have developed the robotic device Assistive Dexterous Arm (ADA), which helps people with limited mobility or amputees feed themselves. ADA can be attached to a wheelchair and, when activated, picks up a special 3D-printed fork. Its cameras scan a plate of food, while algorithms help assess how it should be picked up and the ADA rotated to enable the user to eat it. When the meal is finished, ADA moves away and stows the fork.