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Paralyzed Man Walks Again Using Exoskeleton
dominique_cimafranca notes a story up at the Daily Mail in the UK about a partially paralyzed man who is able to walk again using an exoskeleton frame. The article goes a bit far in comparing the device to Robocop, but it does show pictures of the man, paralyzed for the last 20 years, regaining some use of his legs. Quoting: "The device, called ReWalk, is the brainchild of engineer Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies, a small Israeli high-tech company. Something of a mix between the exoskeleton of a crustacean and the suit worn by Robocop, ReWalk helps paraplegics — people paralyzed below the waist — to stand, walk and climb stairs. The system, which requires crutches to help with balance, consists of motorized leg supports, body sensors and a back pack containing a computerized control box and rechargeable batteries."
Watch the video...
http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=89631&newsChannel=scienceNews
Probably even closer to M.A.N.T.I.S
This is awesome for those who are wheel chair bound. Keep in mind this will only get better and better. He may only be able to walk slowly and with arm supports NOW, but I'm fairly certain that there will come a time when he'll be able to walk and run faster and better than non-assisted people.
Not anytime soon of course, but within 20 years? I'd say yes.
Why did they not add the capability of the segway to balance things and do away with the crutches?
It might have to do with battery life and the potential bulk of the system. Having a stabilizer might be a big drain on the batteries.
Newsclip about seeing with your tongue.
Because it's difficult? The Segway doesn't just balance by code, it's a product of having two big, grippy wheels with heavy-duty motors listening to a whole bunch of clever hardware to track the centre of gravity. All that to balance a vehicle which is basically a really heavy board on wheels with a stick out the top. This exoskeleton is an order of magnitude more complex, and no doubt has nowhere near as much torque or traction available to it.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
ReWalk, soon in a tv shop near you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQRQs-N-ZIM
Don't be crazy anymore!
Now imagine WoW with 20 years of hardware and software progress, as well as a direct neural interface ;-)
Try reading anything written by William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and the Tad Williams series "Otherland" for starters.
Then watch some obscure TV shows and movies. I recommend a very rare and seldom seen movie called The Matrix starring a virtually unknown actor name Keanu something....
On a less sarcastic note, it IS rather nice to see some real progress starting to happen in implementing these ideas. I really hope we don't piss around for another 20 years before we get full-immersion VR, we have the technology to do this in less than 10.
Robocop did NOT wear an exoskeleton.
He was a cyborg, and his limbs were bionic prosthetic replacements.
If you want to start getting picky, he had an endoskeletal and musculature replacement with an external carapace armor system.
(Sure, you could have called it an exoskeletal armor system, but as it is removable with a few screws and doesn't provide structural support, just defense, it doesn't meet the requirements of an exoskeleton. It's more of a carapace.)
Here is the actual real video of him walking.