Bionic man, previously a term that was only associated with science fiction, has now become a reality. The term was made popular in the 1970s with the help of a popular television show called The Six Million Dollar Man. The series chronicled the adventures of Steve Austin, a former astronaut whose body was rebuilt using artificial parts, after he nearly died. After being rebuilt, the character gained superhuman strength and speed, enabling him to become a very important secret operative, and solve high profile crimes.

As scientific breakthroughs continue to be made on an ongoing basis, there is no telling what we will be seeing produced next. Just recently, a team of engineers assembled a robot using organs, limbs, and other body parts that actually pays a close resemblance an real bionic man, much like in the television show. In other related extraordinary scientific discoveries recently, a real life lightsaber, was developed by scientists at MIT and Harvard. It is not quite the type of device that Luke Skywalker used yet, but who knows, maybe one day it will be turned into a weapon.

Meet the Incredible Bionic Man http://t.co/HeB8zWViLv #NYCC pic.twitter.com/w28gW5WiZ2

— Popular Mechanics (@PopMech) October 12, 2013

All this 'man controls robot arm' or 'monkey uses cyborg hand' research is fine, I guess, but I won't be happy until we get a bionic cat.

— Neuroskeptic (@Neuro_Skeptic) October 6, 2013

The artificial “man” that was recently developed is being used as the subject of a Smithsonian Channel documentary. It will air on Sunday, October 20th at 9 p.m. and is called The Incredible Bionic Man. The parts that were used to make the bionic man came from 17 manufacturers around the world. Richard Walker, the managing director of Shadow Robot Co. and the lead robot scientist on the project, has said that the robot has about 60 to 70 percent of the function of a human. He is also about six-and-a-half feet tall and is able to step, sit and stand, with the help of a walking machine.

“@MailOnline: Scientists create first complete BIONIC man http://t.co/XOb8sl354h pic.twitter.com/dupCX294rq” why? There are enough men already!!

— Pia (@MissPiaJay) October 12, 2013

Even though the bionic man is very advanced for what it is and the parts work very well, they are still a long way away from being used in humans. There are some key parts missing too, with no digestive system, liver or skin, and obviously lacks a brain. The parts donated in the bionic experiment were donated, costing roughtly $1 million. The bionic man is currently on display at the New York City Comic Con and after, he plans to head to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Image via Youtube