Where Humans And Robots Connect

As a child, Yoky Matsuoka dreamt of becoming a top-ranked tennis pro. She wasn't your average jock though; she spent court time pondering how her brain was controlling her hand. More than a decade later she was still pondering that question in graduate school where she built the hands for MIT's famous humanoid robot COG.

Matsuoka is a trailblazer in the emerging field of neurobotics, transforming our understanding of how the central nervous system coordinates musculoskeletal action and of how robotic technology can enhance the dexterity and mobility of people with disabilities.

Last year she received a MacArthur "Genius" Award and was named one of Popular Science's "Brilliant 10." On October 16, this rising star spoke about her quest to build the ultimate prosthetic: a fully functional replica of the human hand, controlled directly by the brain.