Pentagon’s research agency showcases future tech

A visitor shakes the prosthetic hand of Johnny Matheny, from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab during the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Demo Day exhibition at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S. May 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

WASHINGTON: Johnny Matheny’s handshake is friendly, confident and firm – though not in the bone-crushing manner favoured by some of the alpha types here in the Pentagon. 

What is remarkable is that Matheny’s proffered hand is not actually his. It is part of a robotic prosthesis researchers hope one day could help transform the lives of countless amputees.