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Robotic Legs Instead of Wheelchairs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the now-thats-technology dept.

smooth wombat writes "Atsuo Takanishi, an engineering professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, has demonstrated a pair of robotic legs that may one day eliminate the need for wheelchairs. At the demonstration in Tokyo, one of Takanishi's students rode the robot -- which bears some resemblance to the mechanical "Wrong Trousers" of Wallace and Gromit fame -- up and down a staircase and along a pebbly path outdoors. A picture of the demonstration may be found here " Still waiting for my Gundam but that's a good start.

5 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by Ironsides · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Only two legs? I'm surprised they didn't go with four. Sure, it's a little bit harder to work with. However, it would seem to be quite a bit more stable as well, especially when the power fails.

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    1. Re:Interesting by FirienFirien · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The major advantage of this over a wheelchair is conformity to the normal human shape. A wheelchair already has far more motive efficiency - and there's designs with wheel pairs that allow newer-fangled wheelchairs to climb chairs, raise the user, etc. Two legs give a disabled person a more normal appearance; four legs do not.

      Wheelchairs aren't even limited with normal pebble surfaces - and if a surface is unstable enough to cause a wheel problems, then it'll cause a robotic leg-replacement problems too.

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  2. Cue Dalek joke in 3... 2.... 1.... ACTION by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Nice idea, wheelchairs are idiotic devices. Forget chairs, they can't even deal with a bit of loose sand. Broken up pavement? Going for a ride/walk in nature? Forget it.

    If the device is going to be like the one in the picture I see another advantage. Raise the wheelchair user to eyelevel with standing people.

    Of course this wouldn't be slashdot if someone didn't come up with a lame weak point. This thing can't be pushed if the battery runs out. Granted, electric wheel chairs especially the models used by the elderly can't be pushed without being handicapped yourselve but still.

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  3. Dean Kamen's wheelchair is way cooler by ameline · · Score: 4, Interesting

    See; http://www.independencenow.com/home.html# It can climb up and down stairs, raise you up to eye level of other standing humans, handle gravel and other rougher terrain. Costs 20k, but If I needed a wheelchair, that's the one I'd get.

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    Ian Ameline
  4. I am the pusher robot by Random+Destruction · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Even if the power doesn't fail, what if it trips? Who here has never fallen down the stairs, ever?
    I forsee lawsuits in the future of this technology. "Wheelchair replacement protects grandma at the bottom of the stairs"

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