TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A soldier who was injured in an explosion at a Keelung army base last year has been fitted with a bionic arm and can now return to work.

The sergeant surnamed Hung (洪) debuted his new high-tech bionic arm at Healthcare Expo Taiwan in Taipei on Thursday (Dec. 5), per CNA. He said he can now use his arm after four months of rehabilitation.

Tri-Service General Hospital Rehabilitative Medicine Chief Physician Chang Chih-ya (張智雅) said the hospital cooperated with a German organization to rehabilitate Hung. Chang said learning to operate a bionic arm is difficult but Hung’s willpower helped him to overcome the challenge.

“This is my future goal,” Hung told reporters, pointing to a video of a US soldier boxing with a bionic arm.

Chang said Hung’s rehabilitation involved psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and prosthetists. Chang said Hung had to undergo seven different types of training twice daily for up to an hour each time to use the arm.

Chang said the arm operates by interpreting myoelectric signals produced when muscles contract. He said the remainder of Hung’s limb sends out signals, which are captured by the bionic arm, processed, and translated into the correct action.

Chang noted that the National Defense Medical Center is researching 3D printing techniques to reduce the cost of prosthetics.

Hung and nine others were injured when a shipment of mortars sent from Matsu exploded during an inspection in July 2023. An investigation into the explosion found no parties responsible for criminal negligence and the soldiers involved did not file complaints.