HAL Exoskeleton Assisted Mountain Climbing

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HAL Exoskeleton Assisted Mountain Climbing

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday April 4, 2006 @07:31AM from the just-plain-hawesome dept.

OzPeter writes "The Age is reporting that two experienced mountain climbers will wear Japanese HAL exoskeletons to assist in carrying a quadriplegic and a muscular dystrophy sufferer to the summit of a Swiss mountain. Although they will be starting only 280 meters below the summit, it will still be an impressive feat." Slashdot covered the HAL exoskeleton late last year.

23 of 100 comments (clear)

Great Name Choice by eldavojohn · 2006-04-04 07:32 · Score: 4, Funny

Let's hope that the HAL suits don't consider the quadriplegic a threat to the mission. Might see the suit eject the body in an effort to achieve success and reach the top.

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1. Re:Great Name Choice by tbo · 2006-04-04 08:00 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Let's hope that the HAL suits don't consider the quadriplegic a threat to the mission.
  
  I think we have bigger problems. The company making HAL is Cyberdyne. We may never know who launches the first strike.
For safety's sake by amliebsch · 2006-04-04 07:33 · Score: 4, Funny

I hope they remember to bring a spare AE-35 unit.

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1. Re:For safety's sake by Illbay · 2006-04-04 09:30 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Well, I hope that they don't fall for that old "replace the AE-35 Unit" ruse!
  
  --
  Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
Extreme conditions by jimmyhat3939 · 2006-04-04 07:34 · Score: 5, Interesting

This seems like a great test and demonstration of this kind of technology in a relatively extreme environment. I know several people on SlashDot have argued that the machinery wouldn't be able to handle the kinds of conditions you might confront when needing to rescue someone or in a war. This is exactly the kind of demonstration they need to do to push this kind of project forward.

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wtf? by rilister · 2006-04-04 07:39 · Score: 3, Funny

"Sankai's venture company Cyberdyne"....

let me get this straight. A robot called "HAL" developed by Cyberdyne?
For pities sake: stop this evil genius now! Before we have to go back in time and do it!

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'This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it' - Eeyore
1. Re:wtf? by elrous0 · 2006-04-04 08:12 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  stop this evil genius now! Before we have to go back in time and do it!
  Don't worry, we'll just send Reese back. No one likes him and he'll do anything to get laid. It's the perfect way to finally get rid of him.
  -Eric
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Nerves of steel by rehtonAesoohC · 2006-04-04 07:40 · Score: 2, Funny

I think I would be extremely nervous riding on the back of someone who was wearing a battery powered machine in freezing cold temperatures...

"Uhh, hold on here, my HAL is frozen solid."
Or...
"Uh oh, my HAL is out of juice... I guess you're rolling back down."
What are you lifting, DAVE? by the_REAL_sam · 2006-04-04 07:41 · Score: 2, Funny

http://www.2001halslegacy.com/

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Re:Why the HAL? by rilister · 2006-04-04 07:42 · Score: 2, Insightful

80% increase in muscle strength "not an amazing achievement"?!

Anyone who's been through physical rehabilitation probably wouldn't agree with that...

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'This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it' - Eeyore
I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave. by MikeSty · 2006-04-04 07:46 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm afraid I can't do that, rilister.
Impressive feat? I think not... by XxtraLarGe · 2006-04-04 07:49 · Score: 4, Funny

Man, those Japanese are way behind. Stephen Hawking already did this back in 1997!

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Re:Ummm. by EvilGrin5000 · 2006-04-04 07:51 · Score: 3, Informative

From TFA...
Uchida - left paralysed from the neck down after a spinal cord injury in a 1983 traffic accident - will make the final ascent to the 4,164-metre peak with the help of alpinist Ken Noguchi, 33.
He would carry Uchida on his back with the aid of a robot known as HAL, Saigo said.
Uchida had wanted to go up the Swiss Alps because a photo of the Matterhorn helped buoy his spirits during his convalescence, Saigo said.
However, when he finally went to Switzerland in 1998 he could get no closer than a lake near the Matterhorn due to his disability.
Seeing HAL last July, though, gave Uchida the idea about how he might finally realise his dream, Saigo said.
Sounds like the perfect media boost this technology needs and it's a win-win situation! Uchida gets his dream, and Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai (the developer) gets some media attention to his product. (Assuming the expedition goes well)

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They've got a long way to go by Wootzor+von+Leetenha · 2006-04-04 07:57 · Score: 2, Funny

if those HAL suits were any good, the quadroplegic and muscular distrophic patient would be walking themselves up the mountain

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Hurry up! by hentaidan · 2006-04-04 08:14 · Score: 5, Funny

From the FAQ:

Q. Can we go to the bathroom or take a bath with HAL ?

A. We are researching it now.

For the love of god, please hurry up!
1. Re:Hurry up! by distributed · 2006-04-04 12:03 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  hmmm... I understand straight, gay, lesbian etc. but taking a bath with an intelligent computer... is there a term for such stuff ? What if HAL prefers his own kind ?
  
  --
  [all generalizations are untrue except this one]
"Overhyped Wench"?!? by Locke2005 · 2006-04-04 08:27 · Score: 4, Funny

No, Pamela Anderson is an overhyped wench... this would be an overhyped winch!

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Nice I guess.. by Digital+Pizza · 2006-04-04 08:39 · Score: 2, Insightful

.. but it'd be better if the exoskeleton was directly worn/used by the quadrapelegic and MS sufferer.

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1. Re:Nice I guess.. by eltonito · 2006-04-04 10:58 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  .. but it'd be better if the exoskeleton was directly worn/used by the quadrapelegic and MS sufferer
  
  Gee, overstate the obvious, will ya?
  Clearly the ultimate goal of this is to improve the mobility of folks who are disabled, but they first need to grasp basic concepts before tackling the complex challenges the disabled have. It's difficult to develop interactive and predictive motion assist on test subjects who have limited motion. Then there are the myriad of challenges with the nature of disabilities - each person has very specific limitations, strengths and weaknesses.
  One quadrapalegic might have limited arm movement and the ability to somewhat stand while another might have excellent arm movement but their legs are jelly. Those with polio may not have fully developed legs that could even support their own weight. Some of those with MS may lack enough muscle control to allow their movements to be translated properly.
  And what about the millions of amputees who cannot afford the technologically infused prosthesis that are currently available? A prosthetic leg with sensors, valves and a shock to provide semi-realistic movement costs more than $25,000 and insurance won't cover a dime of such a "luxury" item. An exo-skeleton adapted to the needs of the disabled would be so astronomical in price that few could ever afford it.
  Clearly the basics of the technology need to be perfected on able-bodies before it is transferred to those with disabilities. In the meantime, folks need to admit that an exoskeleton that improves strength by 80% is pretty darned cool and has a lot of promise.
Re:Ummm. by krnpimpsta · 2006-04-04 08:54 · Score: 2, Insightful

Might as well find the nearest hill where they live and save all the expense.

I think the point is that these disabled people will get to experience some of the hiking experience as well as seeing the summit.
I suppose they could also see the summit via some other means.. maybe by helicoptor? Or from space? Or in a picture?

Why do people bother to run a marathon? It's easier to drive.

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Terminate them while we have the chance by rebootconrad · 2006-04-04 09:49 · Score: 2, Funny

Using HAL, someone who could normally lift 100 kilograms at a leg press machine could lift 180 kilograms, Cyberdyne said.

Is it just me, or does it sound like a bad idea to start messing with technology produced by the Cyberdyne Corporation...? Anyone up for a little time travel?
Mountain rubbish by EmbeddedJanitor · 2006-04-04 13:36 · Score: 2, Interesting

A low altitude hill climb would also be far easier to clean up after, film etc, but I guess does not have the same wow factor. Most high altitude missions leave behind a huge mess. I have visions of the HAL mission leaving a trail of spent AA batteries.

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Engineering is the art of compromise.
Re:Why the HAL? by Helish · 2006-04-04 15:04 · Score: 2, Insightful

You have to realise that with proper training and nutrition you could do exactly the same in 6 months time. This are not impressive numbers, mostly the leg press, I can leg press 240kg with ease, but I can only (I assume it's similar to deadlift what they are talking about) lift 120kg. This numbers are very midcore. The only difference is that the machine doesn't get tired over a period of time.