Exoskeletons in IEEE Spectrum

Rob the Bold writes "October IEEE Spectrum magazine (print and online) reports on worldwide developments in exoskeleton technology. Applications include mobility for the disabled, increased lifting power for cargo loaders and nurses, and faster running capability. Developments in the US, Europe and Asia are reviewed." From the article: "Today, in Japan and the United States, engineers are finally putting some practical exoskeletons through their paces outside of laboratories. But don't look for these remarkable new systems to bust bricks or spew lightning. The very first commercially available exoskeleton, scheduled to hit the market in Japan next month, is designed to help elderly and disabled people walk, climb stairs, and carry things around. Built by Cyberdyne Inc., in Tsukuba, Japan, this exoskeleton, called HAL-5, will cost about 1.5 million yen (around US $13 800)."

Comments

Fate tempting choice of names

[Anonymous Coward]

The company's called Cyberdyne and the exoskeleton is called HAL? I think I know where this is going ...

Re:Fate tempting choice of names

[Lucractius]

Asta La Vista, Davey...

Re:Fate tempting choice of names

[Tablizer]

"Dave, pull my finger"

Re:Fate tempting choice of names

[Tablizer]

Asta La Vista, Davey...

Those kind of jokes are not funny when you live in California.

Re:Fate tempting choice of names

[utnow]

It's simply a Hardware Abstration Layer for old people. To make them easier to interface with.

Interesting

[Anonymous Coward]

So, so many times have I said "If I only had an exoskeleton, I could ward off these feral Oliphants". I wonder if there will be dealer financing...

made by cyberdyne

[siewsk]

T E R M I N A T O R

Cyberdyne Series 101 Terminator Endoskeleton
Height: 1.8 meters
DEX: 4D+2
Blaster 6D, Brawling Parry 5D, Firearms 6D, Grenade 6D,
Melee Combat 6D, Melee Parry 5D
KNO: 3D
Scholar: Human Anatomy 8D, Survival: Wasteland 6D,
Languages 10D, Intimidation 7D,
Scholar: Cyberdyne Systems 6D
MEC: 3D+2
Ground Vehicle Operation 6D
PER: 3D
Investigation 7D, Search 8D
STR: 6D
Brawling 8D, Climbing/Jumping 7D, Lifting 8D, Stamina 8D
TEC: 3D+2
Blaster Repair 6D, Firearms Repair 6D, Demolition 7D,
First Aid 6D, Ground Vehicle Repair 6D, Security, 7D
Move: 11
Equipped with:
Humanoid Construction
Vocabulator
Enhanced Visual Receptors (+2D to any sight-based action)
Adaptive Learning Circuitry
Life Support Circuitry: Power source and/or CPU must be shut
down/destroyed before a terminator will stop hunting
Disadvantages:
Dogs bark at the smell of a terminator.

Can you say Terminator

[zappepcs]

If this didn't have IEEE all over it, I'd have thought that was a joke? Cyberdyne Inc, HAL?

Let the jokes begin

Re:Can you say Terminator

[Tablizer]

If this didn't have IEEE all over it, I'd have thought that was a joke? Cyberdyne Inc, HAL?

No, "IEEE" is the squeal you make when it badly malfunctions.

Cyberdyne? The 800 model or the t1000?

[EQ]

Watch out when they start moving on their own looking for skynet...

We need to hold off on exoskeleton research...

[dummyname12]

...and start putting more money into space exploration. Afterall, what good is an exoskeleton without the giant alien queen to fight with it?

Werecome

[Anonymous Coward]

I for one welcome our senior Japanese Cyborg overlords.

Eeek!

[Hawthorne01]

Earlier today, we had a story here about autonomous robot cars.

Now this.

That does it. I'm buying lots of big guns and moving to the Mojave Desert.

Re:Eeek!

[Kohath]

You picked the worst possible place. Read the article you linked to. The robots already know how to navigate the Mojave Desert!.

Re:Eeek!

[Julian Morrison]

In the real 21st century, the robot reads your intentions out of the Slashdot archive, cross references your name to your email with google, uses your email to retrieve your credit record and postal address, enters your zipcode into google maps, spots your fortified compound in a satellite photo, and turns up at the door disguised as a travelling salesman for exactly the brand of Russian marital aids for which your purchase histoy shows such fondness.

Don't worry

[Rui del-Negro]

Don't worry, this is just HAL-5. They still have 8995 versions to go through before it gets really dangerous.

RMN
~~~

But when...

[SeaFox]

Does the liquid metal version come out?

Think of the storage space needed and time to strap the suit on. I want to just pour it over me and start hunting John Con--er carrying heavy loads at work.

Re:Sigh.

[k_187]

yeah, until all the cybernetic octogenerians decide to TAKE OVER THE WORLD

Pun Intended

[Doc Ruby]

If a closet is "a small, enclosed storage space in a house or building", then are we talking about exoskeletons in the IEEE eClosets?

Re:Two sci-fi references from one company?

[halowolf]

Having worked as a progtammer for marketing deparments, I can assure you that such oversights is the normal operating procedure.

I want one

[tsotha]

Oh, but not for granny to carry her groceries. I want one so I can carry this.

That's just what Japan needs: rampaging cyborgs

[GuyMannDude]

You gotta wonder who's the fucking Einstein who decided to equip the elderly with robotic ninja superpowers. When I was working as a hapless waiter at Denny's years ago, I thought I had I bad whenever one of those geezers would start ranting about the "good old days" and "whatever happened to service?" if their bowl of oatmeal wasn't cooked just right or their order was a few minutes late. Now we're going to have to worry about them going on a rampage and destroying the city. Christ, the Japanese are probably going to have to call in Godzilla to pacify the robots instead of vice-versa! You'd think the Japanese of all people would know better than this.

GMD

Re:Sigh.

[cortex]

The though of my octogenarian grandmother (who has been know to hit people with her cane when angered) in possession of one of these exo-skeletons fills me with horror