Slashdot Mirror
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)."
The company's called Cyberdyne and the exoskeleton is called HAL? I think I know where this is going ...
Wow, how did that slip through marketing?
Cyberdyne Systems
HAL
...and start putting more money into space exploration. Afterall, what good is an exoskeleton without the giant alien queen to fight with it?
Don't worry, this is just HAL-5. They still have 8995 versions to go through before it gets really dangerous.
RMN
~~~
Will it really increase the cost, however? I mean, it costs far more for a nurse to care for an elderly patient. If the patients can care for themselves, then that reduces the number of nurses required. I would be inclined to say that a nurse costs far more than $14000, and you have to keep paying each nurse's salary each year! Devices like these may works for many years, perhaps even with minimal upkeep costs. Thus your taxes may very well decrease because of technology such as this.
Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
Just check out their website: http://www.cyberdyne.jp/ENG/. Looks like an amateur hack...
The photos indicate the all important GLOWING RING JOINTS on the exoskeleton, no doubt the first feature to be implemented. If you look at the corporate info, the company was founded in June of 2004, and has a capital of 10M JPY.. which looks big at first sight, until you consider it's just a little under 90k USD. Looks to me as if they're pulling our leg, especially considering how little real info there is here. I won't even get in to the no doubt intentionally comedic naming of the company and its "product". Also check out this pic: http://www.cyberdyne.jp/Image/sakurai_double.JPG, yeah.. that exoskeleton is definitely necessary to lift a 90 lb. Japanese girl..
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.
You picked the worst possible place. Read the article you linked to. The robots already know how to navigate the Mojave Desert!.
yeah, until all the cybernetic octogenerians decide to TAKE OVER THE WORLD
11 was a racehorse
12 was 12
1111 Race
12112
My 91 year old grandmother's being issued a walker was a blow to her pride and quality of life. She's in a home where they keep an eye on you, help you pee and take meds. They try to make sure she uses her walker, but there are times when she is alone in her room at night, probably loaded on bourbon, and she tries to make it to the bathroom without her walker. She's fallen multiple times doing this, the last time breaking her pelvis.
Now if these Japanese could make a device to protect the health of loved ones, especially the uncooperative flavor, that they are more inclined to use because it isn't as big a pain in the ass as her walker and the like, you'd see them export even more goods.
The last Japanese themed article I read on slashdot was about some stupid heat efficient automatic door thing, and like a lot of people, it struck me as vapor that ain't gonna happen. Here this may not be the case because there is potentially strong demand from people like me to pull this through enough R&D to get in finally into the market. I'm not the only one with a 91 year old grandma with a strong appreciation of whiskey. Go Japan.
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.
Table-ized A.I.
These devices will end up in warehouses for moving heavy cargo. Sure you can use a forklift, but these will probably cost a fraction of one and be able to pick up ~ 1/4 the weight. That is the space where 1-2 men carry things around, and get bad backs all the time.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
As I've mentioned in previous /. postings, I did work on powered prosthetics back in the mid-late 70's. The two big holdbacks were power and feedback control. They seem to be making progress with the development of nickel-metal hydyide and lithium battery packs. Feedback: kinesthetics (the intuative ability to know where your body parts are), and balance will continue to be challanges. It takes a human being up to several years to be able to walk. Even longer to develop agility for complex tasks such as throwing a ball. Perhaps self-modifying programs capable of "learning", so-called genetic algorythms would be helpfull. Development of robots like Honda's Asimo face similar developmental problems and great progress has been made.
Chaos maximizes locally around me.