Following on from Richard
Hammond’s Miracles of Nature, one thing in particular caught the eye of The Technology Room, namely the robotic
suit based on arthropods (basically any animal with a skeleton on the outside
of its body, an exoskeleton, as oppose to internal endoskeletons we humans
have). In the show, the suit helped a man who had broken his back and hadn’t
walked since take his first steps in over 8 years. The Technology Room decided to dive in and explore this world, and
below are 3 examples of robotic suits from across the globe.
Ekso
American company Ekso Bionics, founded by Homayoon Kazerooni,
Russ Angold and Nathan Harding, makes this first suit in our list. All the
founders were members of the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory
at the University of California, the same laboratory that helped to make
someone walk again in the aforementioned section of Richard Hammond’s Miracles
of Nature. The Ekso, also known as eLEGS
(Exoskeleton Lower Extremity Gait System), is designed to be a portable
exoskeleton which can help paraplegics stand and walk. Although it weighs over
20kg, the user should feel none of that weight, as the Ekso structure ensures
that the weight is transferred directly to the ground. Anyone between 5 ft 2”
and 6 ft 2” weighing less than 100 kg can wear the suit, and experienced users
should be able to take it on and off in less than 5 minutes. The on-board
lithium batteries should be able to drive the motors for 6 hours, and allow
walking speeds of around 1 mph. The suit is currently undergoing clinical
trials, although Ekso plan to launch a personal version in early 2014. The
costs are high though, with initial estimates placing the suit at well over
£50000. More information on the Ekso can be found here.
HAL
Over to Japan, and the Hybrid Assistive Limb
(HAL). This exoskeleton was formed in a joint development by robotics company Cyberdyne
and the University of Tsukuba. This differs from the Ekso by providing
functions for the torso and arms as well as the lower body. The current HAL-5
model has advanced significantly from its first iteration; the total weight of
the suit is approximately 23kg. The first HAL model’s battery alone weighed 22kg. More impressive though is the way the suit operates. Sensors on the suit
detect weak bio-signals, sent from the brain when it tries to move a muscle,
and the suit then helps provides movement by translating these signals into the
intended movement of the wearer. This can aid user movement, and help perform
tasks such as lifting heavy objects, which may have previously been impossible
for the wearer. The full body specification however, means that the suit can
only operate for 2 hours 40 minutes between charges on its lithium batteries.
HAL was developed to increase the well-being of the elderly and disabled,
although the company is also exploring options in factory labour and rescue
sites. The suit can currently be rented in Japan, for a monthly fee of around
£1250, with the company announcing plans to expand into the overseas market.
Find out more about HAL here.
XOS 2
We return to America for the final
exoskeleton in our list, the Raytheon Sarcos XOS 2. Raytheon is the sixth
largest military contractor in the world and, unsurprisingly, the XOS 2 has been
developed for use by the US army. This 95kg steel and aluminium suit allows its
operator to lift up to 17 times the weight they would have otherwise been
capable of, whilst still maintaining relatively high ease of movement and
agility. There is a catch though. Unlike its lithium battery powered
counterparts, the XOS 2 uses hydraulics, and as such needs to be tethered to a
hydraulic fluid supply permanently. A hydraulic fluid backpack is being
developed by Raytheon though, and is expected to be operational by 2020, with
the tethered version hoping to be entered into service by 2015. In the
meantime, watch a video of the XOS 2 in action here, or visit Raytheon’s website.
Last Monday saw the conclusion of the BBC's new three part series Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature. For those that haven't seen it, Richard Hammond, better known for his escapades on Top Gear and Total Wipeout, explores how the world of nature has inspired inventions at the forefront of human technology and innovation, with everything from a kingfisher's eye helping to create a new type of camera which can see underwater from a distance far above the water's surface, to a butterfly wing leading to a material which can make any object completely waterproof. It's a great series, and Richard Hammond is an excellent host, being both funny and informative. You don't need to have a degree in engineering or physics to understand or enjoy the series, and The Technology Room urges anyone with a remote interest in science or even evolution with a spare few hours to have a watch. Something's bound to interest you, whether it be a cuttlefish helping turn a tank invisible, or a crab's exoskeleton inspiring a robotic suit which can increase the user's strength tenfold. All three episodes are on BBC iPlayer until tomorrow evening, and the first episode is available here.
