Zac Vawter, a 31-year-old software engineer from Seattle, Wash., pauses after climbing the stairs to the top of the 103-story Willis Tower using the world's first neural-controlled bionic leg in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 4. According to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, their Center for Bionic Medicine has worked to develop technology that allows amputees like Vawter to better control prosthetics with their own thoughts. Vawter made the climb during the RIC SkyRise Chicago event, a fundraiser for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Zac Vawter, who is fitted with an experimental "bionic" leg, is silhouetted on the Ledge at the Willis Tower in Chicago. Vawter, who is in training to climb to the top of the tower using the new prosthesis, recently took the elevator to the 103rd floor to see the view after an afternoon of work in the lab.
The Associated Press reports — Zac Vawter considers himself a test pilot. After losing his right leg in a motorcycle accident, the 31-year-old software engineer signed up to become a research subject, helping to test a trailblazing prosthetic leg that's controlled by his thoughts.
He will put this groundbreaking "bionic" leg to the ultimate test Sunday when he attempts to climb 103 flights of stairs to the top of Chicago's Willis Tower, one of the world's tallest skyscrapers. Read the full story.
Editor's note: These photos were taken on October 25, 2012 and made available to NBC News today.
Brian Kersey / AP
Biomedical engineer Annie Simon, left, and research prosthetist Elizabeth Halsne fit an experimental "bionic" prosthetic leg on Zac Vawter at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Brian Kersey / AP
Dr. Levi Hargrove, lead researcher for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Center for Bionic Medicine, holds an experimental 'bionic' prosthetic leg.
Brian Kersey / AP
Physical therapist assistant Suzanne Finucane, right, helps Zac Vawter as he practices walking at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Military amputee Steve Arnold uses a hand bike in the new Help for Heroes' Tedworth House rehabilitation center for wounded servicemen and women during a press preview day on Oct. 18 in Tidworth, England.
Matt Cardy / Getty Images
Luke Simmott sits in a wheelchair as he talks to visiting media in the new Help for Heroes' Tedworth House rehabilitation center on Oct. 18.
Matt Cardy / Getty Images
Cyclist Mark Cavendish watches as skier Graham Bell (left) shows amputee Andy Barlow how to ski on the new Skiplex slope that has been installed at the new Help for Heroes' Tedworth House rehabilitation center.
Matt Cardy / Getty Images
A injured serviceman laughs as he uses a exercise bike in the new Help for Heroes' Tedworth House rehabilitation center.
According to the website:Its purpose is to inspire our wounded, injured, sick and returning veterans to lead active independent and fulfilling lives which will enable them to reach their full potential and to support them, and their families, for life.
A wounded serviceman stands on prosthetic legs as he talks to visiting media in the new Help for Heroes' Tedworth House rehabilitation center for wounded servicemen and women during a press preview day on Oct. 18 in Tidworth, England.
Chloe Mills, 1-year-old daughter of Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills and his wife Kelsey, crawls past her father's walking legs in his boyhood home in Vassar, Mich., on Oct. 4, 2012.
Carlos Osorio / AP
Travis Mills plays with his daughter Chloe.
The Associated Press reports from Vassar, Mich. — Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills had been a lot of places since losing his four limbs in Afghanistan. The one place he hadn't been was where people knew him best.
"This is my new normal, and it's all about how I adjust to it," he said moments after using his prosthetic legs to walk from the living room to the sun room at his childhood home. "There's no good that's gonna come from me sitting there and wondering, 'Why'd this happen? Why me? Now what do I do?' The answer's right in front of you: It happened because it happened." Read the full story.
Mills, right, is helped with his home legs by his father, Dennis Mills.
Carlos Osorio / AP
Kelsey Mills helps her husband navigate the newly installed ramp at his boyhood home.
Carlos Osorio / AP
Travis Mills rides in the back of a Jeep during the homecoming parade on Thursday, Oct. 4. Mills, his wife, Kelsey, and their 1-year-old daughter, Chloe, were the grand marshals of Vassar High School's homecoming parade.
Carlos Osorio / AP
Julie Best, a friend of Travis Mills, cheers as he rides in the homecoming parade.
Johan Jonker from South Africa plays a joke with his game partners by pretending to retrieve the ball from the hole using his amputated arm during the South African Disabled Golf Open in Langebaan, South Africa on Monday. The South African Disabled Golf Open is one of the top disabled golf tournaments in the world with more than 60 competitors competing over the 3 day event. People suffering from any number of physical disabilities including arm and leg amputees, hemiplegics, paraplegics, stroke victims, blind and deaf people that are able to grip the club with at least one hand and hit the ball can compete.
Nic Bothma / EPA
Robin Singh from South Africa drives the ball during the South African Disabled Golf Open in Langebaan.
Nic Bothma / EPA
Neal Merry from Wales plays a shot during the South African Disabled Golf Open.
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