REAU
February 2nd, 2006, 11:55 AM
HAL-5
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050721/050721_robots_vmed_730a.widec.jpg
http://img.engadget.com/common/images/3060000000056464.JPG
Developed by Yoshiyuki Sankai of the University of Tsukuba in Japan over a period of more than ten years, the HAL-5, or hybrid assistive limb, was developed to help the elderly and people with physical disabilities walk and lift heavy objects. The HAL-5 can give someone who is disabled the strength and lifting capacity of a healthy adult male, but if in fact a healthy adult male wears the suit it gives him almost super human strenght and lifting capacity. It was first unveiled at the World Expo in Aichi, Japan early 2005 and should be available for purchase early 2006 at an estimated cost of $15,000 - $20,000.
The Hal-5 is controlled by two separate systems. The first system consists of a set of bioelectric sensors that are attached directly to the skin on the legs and arms in order to monitor signals traveling between the muscles and the brain. By measuring the electric current on the skin surface that occurs when a nerve fires in anticipation of walking, standing, or picking something up, the attached computer knows when and how to drive the motors of the exoskeleton. Amazingly the exoskeleton reacts almost as quickly as the human brain itself does.
The second system doesn't react directly to the biofeedback, but rather coordinates the motor commands generated by the first system. It recognizes user movements and optimizes the exoskeleton's motor functions to perform the task at hand. For example, information about how a user walks is stored into the system during its initial training. From then on it automatically recognizes when a person is walking and plays back the recorded movement pattern to assist. The underlying power of the suit is that the stored patterns can be adjusted to compensate for a user's weakness or disability, like a limp or a weak or injured limb.
In addition to providing physical assistance, the device will also be made available to aid in medical rehabilitation for people with brain or spinal injuries.
http://sanlab.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/HAL/hal_5_system.jpg
http://www.thegreenhead.com/technology/images/hal-5-robot-suit-3.jpg
http://www.thegreenhead.com/technology/images/hal-5-robot-suit-4.jpg
http://www.gadgetspy.co.uk/wp-content/photos/power_suit.jpg
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2494/24945801.jpg
early prototype for military application
http://www.beseder.co.il/img/1118393247.jpg
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050721/050721_robots_vmed_730a.widec.jpg
http://img.engadget.com/common/images/3060000000056464.JPG
Developed by Yoshiyuki Sankai of the University of Tsukuba in Japan over a period of more than ten years, the HAL-5, or hybrid assistive limb, was developed to help the elderly and people with physical disabilities walk and lift heavy objects. The HAL-5 can give someone who is disabled the strength and lifting capacity of a healthy adult male, but if in fact a healthy adult male wears the suit it gives him almost super human strenght and lifting capacity. It was first unveiled at the World Expo in Aichi, Japan early 2005 and should be available for purchase early 2006 at an estimated cost of $15,000 - $20,000.
The Hal-5 is controlled by two separate systems. The first system consists of a set of bioelectric sensors that are attached directly to the skin on the legs and arms in order to monitor signals traveling between the muscles and the brain. By measuring the electric current on the skin surface that occurs when a nerve fires in anticipation of walking, standing, or picking something up, the attached computer knows when and how to drive the motors of the exoskeleton. Amazingly the exoskeleton reacts almost as quickly as the human brain itself does.
The second system doesn't react directly to the biofeedback, but rather coordinates the motor commands generated by the first system. It recognizes user movements and optimizes the exoskeleton's motor functions to perform the task at hand. For example, information about how a user walks is stored into the system during its initial training. From then on it automatically recognizes when a person is walking and plays back the recorded movement pattern to assist. The underlying power of the suit is that the stored patterns can be adjusted to compensate for a user's weakness or disability, like a limp or a weak or injured limb.
In addition to providing physical assistance, the device will also be made available to aid in medical rehabilitation for people with brain or spinal injuries.
http://sanlab.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/HAL/hal_5_system.jpg
http://www.thegreenhead.com/technology/images/hal-5-robot-suit-3.jpg
http://www.thegreenhead.com/technology/images/hal-5-robot-suit-4.jpg
http://www.gadgetspy.co.uk/wp-content/photos/power_suit.jpg
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2494/24945801.jpg
early prototype for military application
http://www.beseder.co.il/img/1118393247.jpg