Robotic Exo-suit hits market

[CaptainChewbacca]

Link

When you think of exoskeletons, you probably don't think "cheap," but $4,200? People spend more than that for high-end gaming computers.

Cyberdyne is gearing up to mass produce 400 of its "Hybrid Assistive Limb" exoskeletons annually, selling first to interests in Japan, then perhaps the rest of the world. The company intends the suit less for personal interest and more for "rehabilitation support and physical training support in medical field, ADL support for disabled people, heavy labour support at factories, and rescue support at disaster sites, as well as in the entertainment field." But, hey, if the market exists, Cyberdyne will ramp up production and — who knows? — maybe all of us will be running around in our very own exoskeletons.

Considering that Cyberdyne was planning late last year to rent its suits for $2,200, just $2,000 more to own one doesn't sound bad at all. Naturally, you won't find these at your local exoskeleton store — those seriously interested will have to go through the company.

That's awesome, and I'm half-tempted to buy one just for the hell of it. However, it makes me a bit nervous that not only is CYBERDYNE a real company, but they built something called 'HAL'.

[Zac Naloen]

This sounds like it should be a hoax with names like that.

[CaptainChewbacca]

This sounds like it should be a hoax with names like that.

I'd agree with you, except It's a real company that's been working on this thing for years. I've read articles from 2-4 years ago about their work on this, it's just a real and hilarious name.

[Zac Naloen]

In that case, I like their sense of humour.


I was under the assumption that a practical exo-skeleton was still way off based on comments i've read here, but they are claiming that depending on the suit you use it could increase your lifting power by a factor of 2 - 10. That's quite impressive.

[Broomstick]

I think we should pass the hat and buy one for Mayabird, who was recently venting about her lack of physical brute strength.

After that, I want one for my next roofing job.

[open_sketchbook]

How long before somebody bolts a bunch of armour plates to one and robs a bank with it, Ned Kelly style?

Also, Cyberdyne? The person that founded this company deserves the goldest of gold stars.

[TheLostVikings]

In that case, I like their sense of humour.


I was under the assumption that a practical exo-skeleton was still way off based on comments i've read here, but they are claiming that depending on the suit you use it could increase your lifting power by a factor of 2 - 10. That's quite impressive.

Yup, it's Achilles' heel is the fact that it's not particularly fast, so even though you can increase your strength by almost an order of magnitude you wont be able to sprint 6 million dollar man style or anything.

That said, I've seen videos of it in action, and it's pretty impressive. It works by sensor pads placed on the skin that reads the electrical impulses being sent to the muscles. And since electricity travels faster in wires than human nerves the exo suit actually knows when, and where, a limb is going to move before the actual muscles in question even receive any signal at all(!).

So even with a few millisecond lag to process the signals it still manages to follow your moments without any perceptible delay whatsoever, which is imho fairly impressive. Still, exo suits are obviously still in the infant stages, but I have a feeling the next few years will be pretty exiting. To put it mildly.

[Oskuro]

It should include an audio playback of Sigourney Weaver saying "Get away from her bitch!"

[Ford Prefect]

Honestly, I'd like to try one of these things out, just for the surreal feeling of lifting something far too heavy for my body, as well as other experiments in 'superhuman' strength. It's an exciting technology, and I'd love to know more about the precise mechanics of the exoskeleton in action.

[KrauserKrauser]

How long before someone tries this out in porn?

Oh no! I let loose my great idea! I'm ruined!

[Sea Skimmer]

I wonder how long until some idiot buys one and then tries to catch a dumpster being dropped off a parking garage roof with it. Or a accident resulting in a similar shatter back/traumatic head implosion injury. For the sake of Cyberdyne I hope they make buyers sign some kind of waiver and literally package it in warning labels.

[Mayabird]

I think we should pass the hat and buy one for Mayabird, who was recently venting about her lack of physical brute strength.

After that, I want one for my next roofing job.

Hell, I'll take two.

But seriously, I was wondering why people weren't designing exoskeletons for things like fire-fighting and digging through rubble after something collapses from an earthquake or whatever. As it turns out, they actually were. This is a very practical and useful thing, and not just for totally weaksauce people like me.