Walking assist device with bodyweight support system

Designed for people still able to walk on their own, Honda Motor Co has unveiled its second experimental walking assist device.

The new walking assist device features a bodyweight support system which reduces the load on leg muscles and joints (in the hip, knees and ankles) by supporting a portion of the person’s bodyweight. The device has a simple structure consisting of seat, frame and shoes, and the user can put it on by simply wearing the shoes and lifting the seat into position.

A mechanism directs the assisting force toward the user’s centre of gravity and the ability to control the assist force in concert with the movement of the legs - both unique Honda innovations – make it possible for the device to provide natural assistance in various postures and motions.

Honda will now begin testing the device in real-world conditions to evaluate its effectiveness.

Biologically inspired aquatic exoskeletons designed to enhance the speed, stealth and manoeuvrability of frogmen have been developed by the University of West Florida’s Institute of Human and Machine Cognition.

The underwater exoskeleton concepts emulate two types of biological propulsion: body and/or caudal fin locomotion, where the undulation of the body moves it through water; and median and/or paired fin locomotion, where the manipulation of fins provides the thrust.

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A motorised quasi robotic suit could soon be helping disabled people to sit down, stand up, walk about, and even climb stairs.

ReWalk, developed at by Israel-based Argo Medical Technologies, provides user-initiated mobility - using advanced motion sensors, sophisticated robotic control algorithms, on-board computers, real-time software, actuation motors, tailored rechargeable batteries and composite materials.

Users walk with the assistance of crutches, controlling suit movement through subtle changes in centre of gravity and upper-body movements. In addition to simplifying suit control, this user participation in mobility brings tangible health benefits.

Problems with the urinary, respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems, as well as osteoporosis, pressure sores are all common side affects of prolonged wheelchair use. By keeping users upright on a daily basis, and exercising even paralysed limbs, ReWalk alleviates many of the health-related problems associated with long-term wheelchair use.

The Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) is the third generation exoskeleton system from Berkeley Bionics. The company claims it takes up to 200 pounds without impeding the wearer and decreases its wearer’s metabolic cost (endurance).

During some preliminary evaluations, the oxygen consumption of the users walking at a speed of 2 MPH, was decreased by 5% to 12% when using our HULC™ without a payload. When the users carried a load, the effect was more pronounced. The oxygen consumption of these users carrying an 81 pound approach load at a speed of 2MPH was decreased by about 15% when using the prototype.

See it in action below…

Raytheon is developing a robotic suit for the solider of tomorrow at its research facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Known as an ‘Exoskeleton,’ the suit is essentially a wearable robot that amplifies its wearer’s strength, endurance, and agility. Made of a combination of sensors, actuators and controllers, the suit enables a test engineer to carry a man on his back, or lift 200 pounds several hundred times without tiring. Yet, it is agile enough to play soccer and climb stairs and ramps without issue.

Development of the Exoskeleton has been underway since 2000.

Read more at Raytheon