Hyundai's New 'Wearable Robot' Gives You Super-Strength (theverge.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: South Korean automaker Hyundai has unveiled what is apparently a new robotic exoskeleton. In a blog post the company compares its "wearable robot" prototype to an Iron Man suit, saying it gives the wearer extra strength, allowing them to lift objects "hundreds of kilograms" in weight. The company says that in the future the exoskeleton could be used in factories, by the military, or to help with physical rehabilitation. The suit appears to be a development of Hyundai's H-LEX platform. Hyundai isn't the only one working on robotic exoskeletons. The FDA recently approved a powered lower-limb exoskeleton for clinical and personal use, which allows people paralyzed below the waist to stand up and walk. Panasonic on the other hand is developing exoskeletons for factory workers.

Comments

JT Marsh is the name

[HumanWiki]

Exo-squad here I come.

Robots

[Anonymous Coward]

Why would an employer want to pay for an employee and an exoskeletons, when a robot can be both?

Re:Robots

[HouseOfMisterE]

Because the employer can go play with his super cool wearable robot after hours when no one else is looking?

I want one!

Re:Robots

[Anonymous Coward]

Robot vision is not there yet. A better comparison may be exoskeleton versus remote.

Re:Robots

[Anonymous Coward]

Really, they're putting a person inside a robot shell. We don't need super strength. We need bulletproof clothes, to protect us from the cops, and each other.

Re:Robots

[peragrin]

Because robots are dumber than even the most idiotic human.

Sure a robot can beat a human at go, but show me one that can walk, talk, chew bubblegum,and beat a human at go in the same platform.

The simple fact is a computer capable of out thinking a human can't move on its own.

Re:Robots

[HiThere]

"This, too, shall pass."

OTOH, if you have a good communication link, the stationary computer can operate the telefactor. This gives you a robot with a fairly large range, and power sources limit the range of robots anyway.

That said, this year, and probably the next couple of years, AI intelligence is severely limited compared to human intelligence. Probably compared to dog intelligence, too, but they have certain areas where they are better (than either).

The question is, "How fast are they going to improve?", and current evidence says "A lot faster than most people believe, but not as fast as those who fear them or lust after them hope.". My guess is that it will be a decade before they really appear to be human equivalents (on the average...with areas where they are lots better, and other areas where they are lots weaker). But it's worth noting that a decade isn't a very long time.

My prediction for the Singularity remains at 2030, though there's be recent pressure to guess that it will be sooner. OTOH, a while back the pressure was to make it later. Progress isn't even.

P.S.: You shouldn't hope for the singularity unless you have given up all hope in humans running their own societies. It's and incredibly dangerous point in time. OTOH, we've already come within seconds of destroying all civilization through nuclear war, so if we can get through the narrow passage our odds appear to improve remarkably.

Re:Robots

[mcswell]

...or from aliens. No, not *that* kind of alien!

Re:Robots

[Coren22]

You mean we finally get Power Loaders? I'll buy one...you never know when the aliens might attack.

http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/Cate...

Useful thing.

[NettiWelho]

They should advertize that in a pinch you can also use it to fend off an angry xenomorph queen.

A better demonstration...

[willy_me]

They should have had Sigourney Weaver demo it.

Re:A better demonstration...

[Chas]

Get away from her YOU BITCH!

Re:A better demonstration...

[The Grim Reefer]

They should have had Sigourney Weaver demo it.

They did, but she kept yelling, "get away from her you bitch!" every time she got in the damn thing.

Re:A better demonstration...

[U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M]

Oh, I love that movie too! Paul is really funny!

Oh, I can't wait.

[jeffb (2.718)]

I can't wait to strap myself into a platform that flexes my joints with ten times my own strength, controlled by the latest cloud-based closed-source software...

Re:Oh, I can't wait.

[wonkey_monkey]

More Saw than Iron Man.

Re:Oh, I can't wait.

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe Iron Man 2, the Justin Hammer demo video.

Re:Oh, I can't wait.

[AmiMoJo]

Fortunately they don't work like that. These things have been on sale in Japan for a few years now. The joints are kinda like power steering, in that they only multiply the force you apply. They also kinda "lock" in certain positions so you can carry heavy things without having to supply continuous force, kinda like a car seat belt with tension. They also make them so that they physically can't move beyond the range of a human body (hard stops).

As well as lifting heavy stuff more minimal versions have been used to help people with knee problems bend down and get up. As someone with arthritis this is pretty awesome and I hope the prices come down fast.

thearticleisthesubject

[Anonymous Coward]

>new
nah

Shuffle the names around and it's been the exact same headline for 10 years. Especially the all too familiar bits of "we're hoping for one of those supersizeme defense contracts kthnx" or "pitch this to (literal) oldfags and maybe we can drink from the private ocean of health insurance"

Re: thearticleisthesubject

[Anonymous Coward]

Agreed, seen these things from the 90's and they are "still in development". And have hoped, as an ex rescueman, that these would already be deployed. Earthquake zone rubble removal, forest service, knock down a tree with a single blow, land clearance for breaks, the possibilities are endless.

M.A.N.T.I.S.

[Brad1138]

Maybe this will spark a reboot...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...