REAL LIFE NEWS: NEW EXOSKELETON LETS PARALYZED WALK FOR CHEAP
by Hazed
Exoskeletons that allow people who are paralyzed to walk again are not new, but they are expensive and bulky, so it’s time they came in for a redesign.
Enter a startup from University of California at Berkeley. They have built a lightweight exoskeleton that’s about half the cost of its nearest competitor. The machine is called Phoenix and it weighs in at 12.25kg (27lb). It costs $40,000 – still a packet, but less than half the price of other models.
Phoenix uses low-cost motors and some sophisticated computing power to let the paralyzed walk. They still need crutches for balance, and can only go at 1.1 miles per hour (normal walking speed is about 3.1 mph).
The user can configure the exoskeleton using computer-controlled motors in the hips, so it can be used for walking, sitting down, or standing up.
The firm was set up by Dr Homayoon Kazerooni, who previously worked on the US military’s load-carrying exoskeleton. He thinks the cost and weight can be brought down even further by refining the design.
Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/02/03/cutprice_exoskeleton_replacing_wheelchairs/