The Dawn of Exoskeletons

 Exoskeletons  

Exoskeletons started as a military application, but are now helping the disabled walk.  According to the developers of the technology, exoskeletons will soon be used in industrial applications and more.

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mong the electronic gadgets on display at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas were Ekso Bionics and ReWalk Robotics, exhibiting their exoskeleton products.

What started out as a military application helping soldiers carry large loads has developed into applications in medicine, rehabilitation, construction and in the near future, possibly even sports.

“We see the world of robotics as having a giant wave of human augmentation coming right at it,” said Nate Harding chief executive and co-founder of Ekso Bionics at CES in Las Vegas.

"In five years you’ll see exoskeletons on the building site and on the medical side, someone with paralysis will be using one to get around a party."

“People will be running faster, jumping further and grannies will be showing off their new hip exoskeleton.”“Our technology started in the military, carrying heavy loads and with our partners Lockheed Martin we’re still doing that. But we melded technologies from people for athletics and people with paralysis to aid people with stroke to walk again,” said Harding.

Military applications of exosuits are also rapidly developing. Lockheed Martin has received a contract for the U.S. Navy to evaluate and test two of its iron man-like exoskeletons for potential use in naval shipyard (see video below).

“It’s about wrapping a robot around a person,” explained Harding. “We know it will have a very positive affect the long term health of people who are stuck in wheel chairs."

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Exoskeletons have clear health benefits for paralyzed users by minimizing pressure sores from sitting too long, increasing cardiovascular health, building lean muscle mass and improving bowel function. It is postulated that exoskeleton costs are more than offset by the savings in medical treatment associated with wheelchair use.

The initial consumer market for robotic exoskeletons is the 270,000 people in the U.S. with spinal cord injuries, says Jodi Gricci, vice president of global marketing for ReWalk. There's a similar number of paraplegics in Europe, she told IBD.

The ReWalk exoskeleton provides three hours of continuous walking with its main battery and 30 to 60 minutes on its auxiliary battery. It's designed to be charged overnight, Gricci said

“Now we’re looking at industrial applications – for construction crews holding heavy tools or working on overhead surfaces," described Harding. "That’s our next stage to attack. In five years you’ll see exoskeletons on the building site and on the medical side, someone with paralysis will be using one to get around a party.”




SOURCE  The Guardian

By 33rd Square

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