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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."
No, it uses a free piston hydraulic pump that runs off catalyzed hydrogen preoxide. Actually quite small and light for the power it provides.
"That's not ironic, it's just mean!" - Bender
This suit enhances strength and load-bearing capability. The jet-shoes enhanced speed alone. There was no back brace or luggage compartment - just big-ass loud shoes :)
Then again, there was the spring-loaded running suit those guys made. It retained almost as much energy running as a Kangaroo (one of the most efficient runners on the world). With it, people could run really fast and jump high, all without power. True, it was massive and you'd look a dick wearing it, but technologically fantastic.
...and it's smaller to boot:
Hybrid Assistive Leg
This was invented by Robert A. Heinlein in the book Starship Troopers!
Looks like Mr. Heinlein has done it again. He predicted more then a half century ago that the interface for a an exoskelton (which is what the powered armour in ST is) would be through a force feedback system, shere the suit reads human movement and then reacts to it. Thus very little special training is required to use the powered suit, or exoskelton.
Robert A. Heinlein was also the guy that invented the water bed.
Short of it being used for a Burningman Project, I think it's life is over. (Sniff...)
"Don't fear death... fear not living..." -me
Had an extensive article on full body exoskeletons VERY remeniscent of the kit ripley wore in aliens...
/. over 30 who hasn't suffered from terminal alzheimers....
The article included actual photographs of actual working (though tethered by hoses to a static power pack) units that were being developed by/for the US Army.
I cannot remember the axact issue or year because I was a mere sprog and my dad used to buy the occassional pop mechanics, but it was early sixties.
This was 45 years ago people....
Please don't tell me I'm the only fart on
http://slashdot.org/~GuyFawkes/journal
Excuse me while I shamelessly try to attach myself to work that I can take no credit for.
Professor Kazerooni was my Masters Advisor while at Berkeley in 96-97. His lab is filled with completed and partially completed robotic mechanisms. He and his students have been working on things like this for years. Just to give you an idea of the advancements, check out the arms and legs of his Electric Power Extender. These things are a lot closer to any Mech than the BLEEX. Then again, these things were attached to several Pentium era PCs and several LARGE wall mounted power racks. The reduction in size is remarkable. Imagine walking into the lab and seeing these big, shiny, robotic legs hanging in the middle of the room for the first time. It is a very cool "oooh" and "ahh" experience.
I'm a little disappointed that the project I and others worked on is not on his main page. Oh well.
Nothing to see here.
> How could any of you think this is a bad thing?
For the same reason we think it would have been bad if 1930's Germany or 1950's USSR had had this technology - we find ourselves unable to trust the 2000's US government to responsibly use the power this technology provides. We're afraid that the US government might find the prospect of low-casualty wars too tempting, and engage in them too frequently and for questionable reasons.
More subtly, those wars would create no less fear, frustration, and resentment among the attacked nations and peoples, meaning they would still be filled with a desire to fight back. And if they can't fight back against the armoured military, they'll fight back against a target they can hurt.
That's us, the civilians.
Terrorist attacks are the logical result of this type of asymmetric warfare. When you can't hurt your enemy's troops, you'll find a target you can hurt. When faced with a stealth bomber, the logical weapon is a box cutter.
Sad - and scary - but not a surprise. Stronger weapons will not win modern ideological wars; stronger diplomacy will.
On 60 Minutes Morely Safer interviewed Nan Davis, a student at Wright State University, who'd recently become paraplegic after an accident. They inserted electromyongram electrodes in her muscles, put her on a stationary exercise bike powered by a motor, and recorded her muscles' responses with an Apple II. They built a set of articifial legs and announced their intention to build a small controller and play the recordings back into the device while it was strapped to her, and she would walk. They said at the time they expected it to be ready in 6 to 12 months. She herself stated she was so certain she would walk again, that she refused to get married to her fiance until she could walk up the aisle herself, using this device. She refused to do it in a wheel chair.
/ ferrall.pdf
Only a few weeks later, on the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather read the story of her wedding, with video footage showing her indeed walking up the aisle alone using this device. That was one of the two times I've seen Dan Rather cry on camera (the other being during Apollo 8's reading of Genisis during the first orbit of the moon). CBS made a TV movie based on this, called "First Steps".
I mean, more power to the troops. I carried enough gear enough miles during my enlistments to know how much this would be appreciated. But there's far better uses for this device, and I hope they'll focus as much on those.
I'm glad I didn't submit this as it was. I decided to try to find out what ever happened to Nan Davis. It was surprisingly easy, and came from a surprising source: http://jfs.ohio.gov/women/essayContest/essays2001
"I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B