Japanese company Cyberdyne introduced HAL-5 Exoskelton Robotics Suit at the International Forum on Cybernics in March. HAL-5 (Hybrid Assistive Limb prototype 5) is a wearable robotic suit that helps ordinary people accomplish extraordinary feats such as moving a paralyzed limb or lifting objects they otherwise couldn’t.
Cybernics is an emerging field that is described as the fusion of cybernetics, mechatronics, and informatics. The goal of cybernetics is to understand functions and processes that move from action to sensing to desired goal and again to action. Essentially how anything living or non-living processes information, reacts to information, and reaches desired goals. Mechatronics is the collaboration of multidisciplinary engineering fields in order to design and manufacture useful products. Informatics encompasses human-computer interaction, information science, and technology. The invention of HAL-5 also unites collaboration with the health care fields of neurology, behavioral science, physiology, and psychology.
HAL-5 is a robotic suit designed to support, strengthen, and augment human movement. The head mounted interface displays brain activity using colored lights. Prior to this innovation, brain activity could only be seen on a PC monitor. HAL-5 detects weak bioelectric signals passing from the brain to the musculoskeletal system on the surface of the skin then it instantly operates motors to move its joints in cooperation with the individual’s muscle movements. HAL-5 could be connected to interactive IT systems for enhanced monitoring and interface.
HAL-5 has the potential to help with the heavy duties required for aging factory and construction workers to supplement declining strength and mobility. This has far reaching significant benefits of keeping people productive and sustaining the problematic financial future of the social security system. HAL-5 would also benefit health care workers and caregivers with assistance moving and transferring weakened or immobile patients. There is great potential for paralyzed people to regain strength and mobility with rehabilitation assistance, and possibly those who are wheel-chair bound to regain kinetic mobility with the use of HAL-5.
The newest prototype is lighter than its predecessors (33 pounds in the lower-body suit and 55 in the all-body suit) and more efficient. Initial prototypes would have cost upwards of $50,000. Battery-powered suits for commercial use could initially cost between $14,000 and $19,000, indicating that the price is on its way down.
Cyberdyne plans to start clinical trials of the new robot suit in 2012. Future plans include developing special technologies to develop sensors for health management including observing human movement and behavior to monitor people’s safety in the home.
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