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Powered Exoskeleton Legs
dyoo78 writes "Berkeley Engineers have come up with an ingenious mechanism that almost mimics, well, Borg technology. Developed by UC Berkeley's Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX) consists of mechanical metal leg braces that are connected rigidly to the user at the feet, and, in order to prevent abrasion, more compliantly elsewhere. The device includes a power unit and a backpack-like frame used to carry a large load. This development bring to the forefront the ability to not only carry large loads in wartime efforts, but may possibly help people with limited muscle ability to walk optimally."
Steven Hawking has been using this technology for years!
According to this story, Stephen Hawking already designed and built something better. "I am faster, stronger... better than before," Hawking told reporters via his suit's built-in voice synthesizer.
A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
Doing the splits is hard enough, but doing them sideways, in the middle of a somersault would be worse...
or:
The infantry advances with incredible speed towards the enemy, the men running across the battlefield at 50 miles/hour, then suddenly start to hop in circles as a small but significant grin occupies the face of the enemy commander...
[yeah, I know they're not netowrked, yet...]
Simon
Physicists get Hadrons!
Alright, cool... But can it play Max 300 on hard in DDR? Yeah, I thought not.
i, for one, welcome our robotically enabled masters!
I wasn't sure story to read first, the borg technology or MS assimilating (giving money to) SCO. But they sounded similar, so I went ahead with latter one. :)
Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
Carrying heavy loads in wartime? You mean, like, say, that backpack full of batteries and equipment to power your cyberlegs?
Yes, Berkeley-ites! With our patented "Hippie Assist" functionality, you can flee the tyranny of pepper-spray-wielding police at up to three times the speed! And the titanium-alloy supports allow you to carry up to SIX times as many picket sign bearing snappy slogans!
Worry no more as you march around protesting the cause of the day, as you can taunt the pigs with impunity!
(Hemp-shoe compatibility guaranteed!)
Was more of a standup version of the technology used on captain Christopher Pike's beeping chair.
Add on robotic arms, and we'll be ready to fight off alien queens and throw them out airlocks.
/sig
All your muscles are belong to us!
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
Does it run Linux? If so, I'm afraid of it. I wouldn't want a malicious penguin taking over control.
- "Nobody came out that night, not one was ever seen. But Old Man Stauf is waiting there, crazy sick and mean!"
Woooowwwwwzzeerrrrrrsssssss!!!!!!
They're robo-trousers, ex-NASA!
I love the photo of the guy wearing it. Let's put Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis in that get-up and see if it looks familiar. Who you gonna call?
You are in error. No-one is screaming. Thank you for your cooperation.
I only have one lower extremity that isn't plural. And no, it doesn't require an exoskeleton to maintain it's rigidity.
It's the wrong trousers!
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
At long last, no more engaging in that irritating self propulsion. This will be the ultimate means of locomotion when other means are unavailable (trains and automobiles and such).
Segway, eat your heart out.
"the wearer can walk, squat, bend and swing from side to side without noticeable reductions in agility."
But can he LIMBO!
The onion is rarely this prescient: http://www.theonion.com/onion3123/hawkingexo.html
"with braces on his legs before?"
certain gives new meaning to "Run, Forest, Run!"
We're like rats, in some experiment! -- George Costanza
WWF raw next weeks is gonna *rule*.
-ninjaneer
GO GO GADGET LEGS !!!!!!!!!!
Hey Darl, that innocent 'kick me' sign is going to take on a whole new meaning. Say hi to the martian rover.
The article neglected the real reason for designing it. The guy shown in the picture is an engineering student, and the backpack is full of electrical engineering textbooks. He's trying to make his life easier.
It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
Great somebody invented an invading force that can be defeated by a staircase. Daleks, anyone?
Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
I prefer the acme-rocket pack to the jet powered shoes personally, although springs on the soles of shoes can get that kangaroo motion down. Either way, that damn Fastus Birdus will always get away.
"could"?
;P
Yes! You too will be able to run across America several times. You will recall that when our hero Forest Gump was a tiny lad, he had these very same braces. With the help of a training team he quickly learned to run very fast and long.
It's a shame that these things will probably be locked up and secured for "military use only" by the government. After all, we wouldn't want terrorists to get them (sarcasm).
[I for one, welcome our new mechanically legged overlords]
Of course, there's nothing like curing goons chasing you on bikes... by using your powered exoskeletal legs and arms to rip their ugly pink fleshsticks from their sockets.
"It's Payback Time!"
- The Terminator
If I get one of those things, I can honestly say to someone:
"Bite my shiny metal ass!"
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
So the Japanese people might have been right about mecha combat armor?
Oi veh. Remind us to sign up lots of hotshot teen pilots with various issues to man these things... After all, we know that that's the best way to run these, right?
What'll be funny is when the line at the airport is held up by some pissed granny in an exoskeleton suit throwing a security screener into a 30 foot ceiling for "making her miss her flight".
The last thing this kid in the video needs is less exercise. They should shut the machine off and let him drag that equipment around for a hour a day. Now we are talking about progress. Re-defeat Bush in 2004.....