A US Army veteran has become the first person in the world to be fitted with a custom bionic prosthetic arm inspired by the video game Call of Duty. Danielle Green, 48, from Chicago, lost her left arm in a grenade attack while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, 20 years ago.
The prosthetic, called the Hero RGD, was created by Bristol-based robotics company Open Bionics and unveiled at the Call of Duty Endowment Bowl VI esports tournament. It is battery-powered, can lift up to 35kg, and uses sensors to track muscle movements, allowing Green to control it with her mind.
Green, a former Army Military Police soldier, said the arm has transformed everyday tasks. 'When I'm chopping a cucumber, tomato, or onion, the arm keeps food steady so it doesn't roll away. I can confidently hold a pot or frying pan in place,' she said. The arm also features spring-loaded fingers that can close in 0.4 seconds and is designed to work reliably in wet conditions.
The Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit that helps veterans, collaborated with Open Bionics to create the arm. Green hopes her story will inspire other amputees. 'Little girls who've lost a limb see someone like them moving forward with confidence,' she said. 'This is my way of helping hundreds of thousands of veterans who are looking for employment or a new purpose in life.'
Open Bionics co-founder Samantha Payne MBE noted that prosthetic technology has advanced significantly with 3D printing and AI. 'Now, you just need one wireless arm and you can use any attachment you like,' she said. 'This has been years of hard work. The design pushes the very boundaries of what is physically possible.'
