Bionic arms available by 2009?

It seems like science fiction, but fully-functioning bionic body parts may soon be a reality. DARPA, an organization within the Defense Department, is on track to create a bionic arm that works just as well as a real one made from flesh and blood -- as early as 2009.

The first prototype DARPA created was already a revolution. Instead of merely grasping objects, the bionic limb gave it's user direct sensory feedback -- meaning that the user felt the sensation of grip, as if he still had a hand full of nerve receptors. This allows for incredibly precise actions -- like putting a coin into a slot.

Now there's a new arm in the works -- called Proto 2 -- that promises to be faster, stronger and more flexible, while providing additional sensory feedback, such as limb position and temperature.

I remember watching The Six Million Dollar Man on TV when I was a kid, thinking "that's impossible!" Now, 20 years later, we seem to be approaching that reality. Amazing.