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Paralyzed Man Hits the Streets of NYC In a New Exoskeleton

Posted by samzenpus on from the power-up dept.

the_newsbeagle writes: Robert Woo was paralyzed in 2007 when a construction crane dropped a load of steel on him. Yesterday, he put on the newest "exoskeleton," essentially a pair of smart robotic legs, and strolled out into a busy Manhattan sidewalk. He was demoing the ReWalk 6.0, a $77,000 device that he plans to buy for home use.

38 comments

  1. $1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... by BigSlowTarget · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The motors, sensors, software and batteries of this product are no doubt top end. They also must bear the weight of a regulatory approval process that makes people safe. That means a fall chance of zero because falls can cause significant damage. If you see a thousand dollar version understand the difference - commercial motors, slower response time, less redundancy, less battery life and occasional failures.

    1. Re:$1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Also, the DIY version comes with only two anti-air missiles.

    2. Re:$1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      That means a fall chance of zero

      At the moment it has to be manually switched between walking mode and sitting mode. The shifting of weight triggers it to take the selected action, and as demonstrated in this BBC video, if you leave it in walking mode and try to sit, you will end up hitting the streets in a much more literal fashion.

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/tech...

      1m46s

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    3. Re:$1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... by D.McG. · · Score: 2

      "Woo also counseled the company to focus on making it easy for a user to don the ReWalk. That could make the difference between a device that someone wants to use every day, he said, and one that ends up in a closet."

      No one is going to spend $70,000 on an exoskeleton and let it end up in a closet. For that kind of money, you'll find a way to put it on, or not buy it in the first place.

    4. Re:$1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Which are much less useful than their more accurate anti-aircraft siblings anyway.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    5. Re:$1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... by rpstrong · · Score: 1

      Anti-aircraft missiles can be readily fooled by the target, and will often miss. In contrast, anti-air missiles will hit their target 100% of the time.

  2. It's no use prevaricating about the bush by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    They're techno trousers, ex-NASA, fantastic for walkies!

    1. Re:It's no use prevaricating about the bush by jcr · · Score: 1

      Have you seen this chicken?

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  3. Forced video game reference by atomlib · · Score: 1

    I always asked for this.

  4. Not quite impressed with new product. by SeaFox · · Score: 0

    Call me back when he doesn't have to use two crutches with the legs.

    1. Re:Not quite impressed with new product. by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 3, Informative

      Call me back if you get paralysed from the waist down, and then tell me you're not impressed.

      What is it with some people? Does "not being impressed" make you feel better than everyone else because your standards are so much higher?

      I bet the fax machine is nothing but a waffle iron with a phone attached to you...

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:Not quite impressed with new product. by KGIII · · Score: 2

      I clicked the link and looked at pictures but I promise - I did not read one single word of the article. I am no heretic. I hope it makes some serious noises going down the street. Anyhow, I want a pair of these and I am not even paralyzed. I would go stomping down the street making robot noises. I don't even do drugs (anymore) and I would still do it. Though I suppose I would prefer a pair that did not also require crutches.

      Those are the same style of crutches that I got after I had my knee surgery. They took a little bit to get used to but I found them much more usable than the traditional types after I acclimated. I wonder if they are required or if they are a safety measure because these may fail as they are prototypes.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    3. Re:Not quite impressed with new product. by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      "Hey, they've got chairs with wheels. And here I am, using my legs like sucker." - Homer J. Simpson

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    4. Re: Not quite impressed with new product. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Herro? Herro? Who this? No, Pancake no live here, only Waffles!"

      Honesty, though, it feels like tech in general isn't moving fast enough.

  5. Video? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there a video of the Rewalk 6 in action?

    1. Re:Video? by jklovanc · · Score: 1

      How about these?

  6. Size of computer by maroberts · · Score: 1

    Given the processing power of (say) a modern phone, why is the computer such an enormous device? Okay, it's gone down from a backpack to a fanny pack, but surely it should be able to have a pocket sized processing device to do the job.

    Surely there should be "an app for that"

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

    1. Re: Size of computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It probably also houses the power. It may also require robust connection to the cyber limbs.

    2. Re:Size of computer by Jeremi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Perhaps that is actually a battery pack? I'd imagine something like this would need a lot of power if you want to go very far with it (and not risk collapsing in the middle of the street somewhere)

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    3. Re:Size of computer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It'll be OK once the infrastructure gets charging stations every block or two.

  7. Re:Rich man? by tbq · · Score: 1

    The article says he paid $77,000 USD out of pocket and doesn't expect the insurance to reimburse any of the cost.

  8. Hitting the streets on stilts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's gotta hurt.

  9. Paralyzed Man Hits the Streets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some people just never learn.

  10. I'm only guessing but... by Viol8 · · Score: 2

    ... if you're paralysed and stuck in a wheelchair I'd imagine that even a walk just down to the bottom of the street and back would feel like a life changing experience.

    Its good to see some genuinely useful robotics applications coming out instead of trivial gimmicks such as japanese robotic hotel receptionists.

    1. Re:I'm only guessing but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it wouldn't. As someone who is disabled, legs would feel very foreign to someone who doesn't have them. So it depends on whether you had them before, and whether they worked. Avoid ableism here. Having legs is better for one's health if they are organic.... but actually, the biggest benefit is the ability to reach for something, or to feed himself with the inevitable arm attachments. He can go faster in a wheelchair, despite the stigma, than he can in the robotic legs.

      --Sam

    2. Re:I'm only guessing but... by Viol8 · · Score: 2

      "Avoid ableism here"

      How about you avoid stupid "ism" terms that you've just made up.

      "He can go faster in a wheelchair, despite the stigma, than he can in the robotic legs."

      Even up and down stairs or getting on a bus/train/etc?

    3. Re: I'm only guessing but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are stair climbing powered wheelchairs on the market.

    4. Re: I'm only guessing but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's not getting up and down stairs in these things. How would it know to step higher.

      Also, he didn't make it up: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ableism

      Don't be so damned defensive against anyone who has to be different. The disabled constantly have to hear our stupid opinions about them; I think you can handle one word about you.

  11. Not the best wording... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    Paralyzed Man Hits the Streets of NYC In a New Exoskeleton

    I see what you didn't realise you did there.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Not the best wording... by tinkerton · · Score: 1

      Face down. I enjoyed that interpretation too :)

  12. How long by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    until some New Yorker steals it?

    1. Re:How long by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Not that I'm suggesting it couldn't possibly ever happen, but how often do people in motorized wheelchairs in NYC have their wheelchairs stolen from them while they are out and about and using them? The logistics of stealing something like this exoskeleton are certainly no less involved.

      Or are you suggesting that somebody is likely to break into his home and steal it while he's *NOT* using it?

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  13. Yo, robocripple! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's next, are we sending window lickers in orbit on spazzeships? :)

    1. Re: Yo, robocripple! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey you're cool for being flippant. I'm sure life will be good to you.

  14. Is it real? by Krymzn · · Score: 1

    The article has Woo written all over it.