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March 5, 2011 at 4:34 pm #73552Mechanical Exoskeletons
The Hybrid Assistance Limb (HAL) Suit is manufactured by Cyberdyne Systems and is by far the best non military exo:
http://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/products/LowerLimb_medical.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8VhW9JIwUk“I believe that exoskeletons are among the most significant medical breakthroughs in my lifetime. What we are witnessing today in the medical world may be compared to the discovery of penicillin, the development of X-Ray machines and the advent of transplant surgery.
Roughly 1% of the world’s population relies on wheelchairs for mobility. With the aging of the population this number is skyrocketing. This means approximately 3 million Americans, 5 million Europeans, a total of roughly 10 million citizens from developed countries and 60 million people worldwide rely on wheelchairs. While the wheelchair has dramatically improved in quality over the past decades, the options for people with mobility disorders have been limited. All of that is about to change.
Four exoskeleton manufacturers, from three different continents, are rushing products to the market. Many wheelchair users will soon have the opportunity to walk for the first time years. Walking is significant not only for the obvious improvement in quality of life, but also in the improvement in the health of people with mobility disorders. Humans were not designed to sit for hours on end. The result of constant sitting is pressure sores, atrophied leg muscles and brittle bones. But the impact of wheelchair use is not just due to the sitting, for example, wheelchair users also pay a price just for pushing their wheelchairs. Wheelchair users are at elevated risk for carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain injury from the constant impact of the hands against the pushrims of the wheels. While wheelchairs offer people with mobility disorders freedom, it is not without its costs. Exoskeletons will, at last, offer wheelchair users an alternative mobility option.
To be sure, the first generation of exoskeletons will not be ideal. These exoskeletons are slow and bulky. The first exoskeletons will also be extremely expensive and priced too high for most wheelchair users to enjoy. But it will not be long until progress is made and second, third and fourth generation exoskeletons are developed which will be lighter, faster and less expensive.” – Dr Gene EmmerMilitary Exoskeletons:
Revision Military PROWLER Human Augmentation System (HAS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq4amM9u-6o
The Sarcos Ratheon : 1st Gen : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfjOMfC9Miw
The Sarcos Ratheon : 2nd Gen : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO0xNI3xpmE
DARPA Soft suit : http://nextbigfuture.com/2013/09/darpa-exosuit-and-european-exoskeleton.html
The Berkeley Bionics/Lockheed Martin : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdK2y3lphmE
NASA Robotic trousers http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/10/nasas-inventing-in-style-with-awesome-robot-pants/
Cyberdyne hazard suit : http://io9.com/5952879/mind+controlled-robot-suit-could-help-japanese-emergency-crews-with-damaged-nuclear-plant
US Navy Exo : http://www.wired.com/2014/09/navys-exoskeleton-could-make-workers-20-times-more-productive/?mbid=social_twitterOther walker projects :
The Parker Indego : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8mNP2cdbiE&feature=share
Panasonic Activelink : http://www.technologyreview.com/news/539251/the-exoskeletons-are-coming/
Australian REX exoskeleton for wheelchair users: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZDySlBO2_I
Argo medical ReWalk2 : http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/argo-rewalk/
EKSO Bionics exoskeleton : http://www.eksobionics.com/ekso
Parker Indego powered orthosis : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bYYmZNxaZk
Alter G bionic leg : http://gizmodo.com/i-wore-a-bionic-leg-and-i-never-wanted-to-take-it-off-726536822
Honda walker : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pWvxA4jvbc
The soft Pneumatic legs : http://cwwang.com/2008/04/08/soft-pneumatic-exoskeleton/
Power Assist suit, Carer lifting assistant : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz618qJlIBA
Activelink Power-loader : http://io9.com/5980799/a-compact-mecha+suit-for-battling-pocket+sized-xenomorphs
RB3D – Hercule http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/rb3d-develops-hercule-robotic-exoskeleton-boosts-strength-witho/
Berkeley Bionics eLEGS : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcM0ruq28dc
Talk from Berkley Bionics guy at TED and Exoskeleton Demo : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62SmQuMNE0w
All 6 Berkeley Exoskeleton projects : http://bleex.me.berkeley.edu/research/exoskeleton/
IREX Tokyo University Muscle suit : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPxoKyptAN8
Percro Power Loader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i63zQKyz2U4
Harvard Soft Suit : http://betaboston.com/news/2014/09/11/wearable-robot-from-harvard-scores-3-million-darpa-funding-new-balance-partnership/?p1=Carousel_Feature
Tokyo Uni of Science Muscle suit backpack : http://www.damngeeky.com/2014/11/22/27614/get-wearable-robotic-device-5190.htmlArm systems :
Neater Arm Support : https://www.youtube.com/embed/YsDeL1tTga4
X-Ar Arm : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntmHK3c_tg8
Focal Meditech Darwing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJw8zr5s3S0
Focal Meditech Gowing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnQsZvepfM8
Armon Products http://www.armonproducts.com/
TitanARM : http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/01/upenn-titanarm-exoskeleton/
MyoPro Arm orthosis: http://www.myopro.com/orthotists-and-prosthetists-product-details.php
Tokyo university project : http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/tokyo-university-of-science-pneumatic-muscle-suit/
skel-ex unpowered arm support : http://www.skel-ex.com/#
Wrex Arm only exoskeleton for children : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3WX4fBVqkE
Wrex for adults : http://jaecoorthopedic.com/products/categories/Mobile-Arm-Supports/WREX-%252d-Wilmington-Robotic-EXoskeleton/
3D printed “Magic Arm” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoZ2BgPVtA0&feature=player_embedded
Armon Ayura arm support : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tbJ7IlZWy8&feature=youtu.beOther mobility devices:
Manual chair powered augments:
Alber Power Add-Ons : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGeiE01ogLw
E-Fix Mobility Drive http://www.frankmobility.com/efixworks.php
Firefly Motorised third wheel : http://www.newmobility.com/2014/07/firefly-motorized-third-wheel/
Independent Wheelchair Assist : http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/05/how-to-turn-any-wheelchair-into-an-electric-scooter/
Whill makes any wheelchair electric : http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2011/12/clamp-on-whill-temporarily-gives-manual-wheelchairs-electric-drive/Stair climbing chairs:
B Free Multi terrain wheelchair : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzZwkE910f0
Scalev stair climbing wheelchair : http://scalevo.ch/?page_id=653
Galileo Wheelchair : http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/galileo-stair-climbing-go-anywhere-wheelchair.html
Stair climbing robotic chair : http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/15/robotic-wheelchair-concept/Portable power chairs:
Travelscoot – Ultra light portable motorised scooter : http://www.travelscoot.eu/
Folding travel power chair : http://wheelchair88.com/product/pw-999ul/
Sunrise medical Rumba folding : http://www.sunrisemedical.co.uk/products/quickie/power-wheelchairs/rumba.aspx
S20 Passport XL folding scooter : http://heartwayintl.com/s20-passport-xl-folding-travel-scooter-w-suspension/
Monarch folding scooter: http://www.monarchmobility.com/mobie/Rough terrain chairs:
Da Vinci wheelchair trike : http://www.davincimobility.com/#!handcycles-handbikes/cvck
Mountain Trike manual : http://www.mountaintrike.com/
All terrain wheelchairs : http://www.allterrainwheelchairs.co.uk/
Ziesel offroad Tanktread wheelchair : http://www.30npire.com/cars/ziesel-offroad-driving-machine
Tracfab Tanktread wheelchir http://www.tracfab.com/
“Unimo” tank tread chair : http://www.gizmag.com/unimo-continuous-track-electric-wheelchair/29748/
Extreme Rollstuhl Segway Sitting Bull http://youtu.be/g2EKO3otaIg
Genny Segway Wheelchair : http://www.gennymobility.com/
Seated Segway! : http://glidesaddle.wix.com/glidesaddleWheeled standing frames:
Tek Robotic Mobilisation : http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/03/this-amazing-device-just-made-wheelchairs-obsolete/
NCKU’s i wheelchair : http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/27/nckus-i-transport-robot-wheelchair-lifts-riders-to-full-height/
Easy Stand : http://www.easystand.com/
Permobil F5 : http://mobilitymgmt.com/articles/2015/04/01/permobil-f3-f5.aspx
Etac Balder Finesse wheelchair : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT2C4pyrwJo&feature=youtu.beProsthetics:
Hackberry Open source prosthetic arm : http://gizmodo.com/open-source-cyborg-hand-is-making-prosthetics-more-acce-1707904035
The Permma wheelchair robot arm : http://www.herl.pitt.edu/permma
Kino Robot arm : http://kinovarobotics.com/
Hugh Herr: The new Bionics that can run, dance and climb : http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance
Aimee Mullins and her 12 pairs of legs : http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics.html
3D printed prosthetics : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wnnNk91EMs&sns=em
Cutting edge amputee prosthetics : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AoRmlAZVTs
The “Luke arm” for amputees : http://www.ted.com/talks/dean_kamen_previews_a_new_prosthetic_arm.html
Darpa Arm with sense of touch : http://singularityhub.com/2013/07/24/darpas-brain-controlled-prosthetic-arm-and-a-bionic-hand-that-can-touch/
$100 Prosthesis project : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDYFMgrjeLgI try to keep this post up to date and add things when I find them,
please let me know if any links are dead so I can refresh them.
Leave a comment if you like this post!March 6, 2011 at 2:32 pm #79438Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsAWESOME … I can just see me strutting [does it strut?] down the High Street in something like that … I could use my Arnie “I’ll be back” voice instead of the Little Britain “I want that one”.
Where is my £53 million winning euro lottery ticket .. that should get me a leg
In all seriousness though, this could be the adaptions, frames and aids of the future.
I'm always the animal, my body's the cage
I blog about nothingness www.amgroves.com
March 6, 2011 at 6:15 pm #79439Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsNot seen anything about strutting but did find this gem:
“One day exoskeletons will be so advanced, they will be like prosthetic legs, that is, hidden under clothes. Paraplegics will walk and except for a slightly different gait, no one will know they are using an exoskeleton.”
In 2008 in Japan the HAL suit was available to rent for £1,260 per month. (£839 for legs only version) Not too bad considering the product has been launched recently and they only make 500 per year. In ten years with mass production to care homes, hospitals and homes in other first world countries the price should reduce considerably.
Have yet to roll out in Europe though. Denmark is currently testing them in hospitals:
http://www.suite101.com/content/hal-5-exoskeleton-power-suit-from-cyberdyne-a234158March 7, 2011 at 1:45 pm #79441Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsI want an ED209 suit! :twisted:
March 8, 2011 at 9:02 am #79442Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsJust found a list that has even more exoskeleton projects than the ones listed here:
http://www.engadget.com/tag/exoskeletonApril 8, 2011 at 7:50 am #79443Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsReport on C4 News this week:
http://www.channel4.com/news/robotic-trousers-hailed-as-breakthrough-for-paralysis
April 8, 2011 at 4:38 pm #79444Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsI saw a news item on this as well, might have been Five News? It showed the exoskeleton being tried by a man with paraplegia at the recent Disability Exhibition in Birmingham. He was able to walk round the exhibits – incredible, and judging by his facial expressions, this is what the man was thinking as well!
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
April 8, 2011 at 4:49 pm #79445Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsLooks promising. and yeh 40 grand is a lot of cash. but like all things tech, the price will come down. espeically if they manage to market it in a leisure comercial way.
Do you think that although the machines doing all the leg work that it gives the muscles ie chest muscles a good workout.
Wasn’t going to go to naidex but may go for a look
April 16, 2011 at 9:58 am #79446Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised Exoskeletons@ClaireF wrote:
Ok, was just trying to find the article I mentioned above and am thinking maybe I imagined it!
II think this was the article :
http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking/robot-suit-will-help-quadriplegic-scale-the-heights/2006/04/04/1143916503382.htmlBut it was a fully mobile person carrying a quadriplegic back in 2006.
August 4, 2011 at 9:10 pm #79448Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsFor those who would prefer to ride a giant mechanical spider:
http://www.likecool.com/Stelarc_Exoskeleton–Gadget–Gear.htmlAugust 16, 2011 at 10:16 am #79450Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsNot really on topic here but i am aware of the gaping chasm between what military amputees receive prosthetic wise, compared to us “feckless scroungers”.
I find it really unsettling that they portrayed as heroes, for getting blown up but we are just “useless eaters”, costing the country a fortune.
August 16, 2011 at 10:52 am #79449Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised Exoskeletons@ClaireF wrote:
Ok when the Exoskeleton official advert comes out this is the song they need to use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzg6B64-akg
Sorry had to post this
LOL – imagine a mass march of robotic crips to the battle cry “Anyone for doomsday” that would be a sight to see.
I'm always the animal, my body's the cage
I blog about nothingness www.amgroves.com
August 19, 2011 at 8:51 am #79451Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsI vote this as soundtrack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7rjLQuW2nQ
Maybe Ironman…The most research funding is into the military ones. But these things are going to be so useful that the mass production of them will make them affordable for the rest of us. Like GPS or the Internet.
Ex soldiers in America are hardly treated any better than other people with disabilities.
There is a short story by William Gibson that has an exoskeleton in it : “The Winter Market” from a compilation book “Burning Chrome”
August 23, 2011 at 7:51 pm #79452Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsJust did a bit of reorganising on the main post on this thread, added some new links too. The £90 000 Rex is now available in the UK for those with money to burn, would be interested to hear from anyone who has tried it :
Article : http://www.scotsman.com/news/Walking-back-to-happiness-with.6821224.jp
Product : http://www.rexbionics.com/November 11, 2011 at 7:55 pm #79453Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsThe nanotech stuff is supremely magical, a human hair’s worth of carbon nanotubes is strong enough to lift an elephant. Its a pity every safety test we have put the stuff through says its incredibly dangerous. There was some news recently on making artificial muscles out of it : http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/10/13/a-buff-new-twist-on-carbon-nanotube-artificial-muscles/
December 28, 2011 at 11:52 am #79454Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsHave played Crysis, was good fun. I have just updated the main post with a link to the powered exoskeleton article on wikipedia, they actually have a pretty good list of them in popular culture. I also found a site that is tracking price and availability that I also added a link to. Those toad tongues look pretty interesting. Would be weird having to feed my suit bugs but its a small price to pay.
April 23, 2012 at 6:07 pm #79455Re: Cybernetics / Mechanised ExoskeletonsThe ReWalk model is being used by a British woman, Claire Lomas. Having been told she’d never walk again after being stuck in a wheel chair by a spinal injury thanks to falling off a horse, she’s going to complete all 26-miles of the London Marathon with the aid of a £43,000 robotic pair of trousers.
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