Robotic Exoskeletons: Enhancing Human Strength

[Ivan Seeking]

The prospect of slipping into a robotic exoskeleton that could enhance strength, keep the body active while recovering from an injury or even serve as a prosthetic limb has great appeal. Unlike the svelt body armor donned by Iron Man, however, most exoskeletons to date have looked more like clunky spare parts cobbled together.

Japan's CYBERDYNE, Inc. is hoping to change that with a sleek, white exoskeleton now in the works that it says can augment the body's own strength or do the work of ailing (or missing) limbs. The company is confident enough in its new technology to have started construction on a new lab expected to mass-produce up to 500 robotic power suits (think Star Wars storm trooper without the helmet) annually, beginning in October, according to Japan's Kyodo News Web site. [continued]

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/A070BA0E-9DA1-A982-E2844D04DDC05DC6_1.jpg [Broken]
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=real-life-iron-man-exoskeleton

 

[Cyrus]

My friend showed me the video of the Raytheon one, and reading the title I thought it was the same video clip and rolled my eyes before clicking. However, I must say, this looks MUCH MUCH more advanced and better than the one from Raytheon. I don't know how they compare peformancewise, but this one looks amazing. :!)

Hahah, its called 'HAL'

http://www.cyberdyne.jp/robotsuithal/img/img_robotsuithal.jpg

Please disengage the suit HAL, "Im sorry, I can't do that dave"


Damn those japs are good at technology.

 

[Moonbear]

Is it just me or do those suits look like much clunkier versions of things like knee braces that we already have?

 

[Poop-Loops]

Knee braces don't let you lift 300lbs.

 

[d1ff30m0rf1zm]

Vengeance for nerds has come! Imagine walking around the schoolyard like this.

 

[ice109]

Knee braces don't let you lift 300lbs.

i can already lift 300lbs, does that mean that now i'll be able to lift 600?

 

[Shukie]

Probably pretty expensive right now.

 

[wolram]

Remember, no curry before getting strapped in.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I mentioned the military application versions of this to Favaro (on a forum he started for fan input) to possibly use in the Iron Man movie. I also mentioned several other sorts of real technology that he could have used as part of the story and explination of how the suit works or was designed. While I liked the movie I was rather disappointed that he didn't use ANY real technology to describe how the Iron Man suit works. :-/

 

[binzing]

The Japanese never cease to amaze/ scare/ confuse/ hilliariate (is that a word? Anyways, make me laugh)...

 

[Poop-Loops]

i can already lift 300lbs, does that mean that now i'll be able to lift 600?

No, now you'll be able to lift 300lbs without giving yourself a hernia.

 

[ice109]

No, now you'll be able to lift 300lbs without giving yourself a hernia.

meh I've gone as high as 405 and my groin is fine.

 

[Poop-Loops]

Deadlift?