Exoskeletons
Could exoskeletons, robotic limbs, and cybernetic augmentations reach a point where they are beautiful? Furthermore, could they ever become so prolific as to be fashionable - Kyle Munkittrick
image by: Ekso Bionics
HWN Suggests
Exoskeletons Will Be the Eyeglasses of the 21st Century
We don’t often realize it, but all fashion is predicated upon human beings’ predilection for prostheses and augmentations. All clothing, bags, and shoes are augmentation to our body, skin, and feet allowing us to deal with non-tropical climates, to carry large amounts of stuff, and to deal with harsh or unforgiving terrain. If humans hadn’t already modified ourselves, the only fashion we’d have is hairstyle.
Eyeglasses and contact lenses are one of the most prolific forms of medical augmentation on the planet. In many industrialized modern cultures, eyeglasses and contacts are also a major element of fashion. Thin, small glasses are out of fashion; big, chunky frames with large lenses…
Resources
Exoskeletons: Robotic Structures Making Paralyzed People Walk Again
...we believe these mobile frameworks have a bright future in giving back the sense of movement for the paralyzed, in assisting doctors during long hours of surgery, or even keeping pensioners longer in blue-collar jobs requiring heavy lifting.
Are skintight suits the future of robotic exoskeletons?
In 2012, paralysed woman Claire Lomas even completed the London Marathon wearing one. But there are still significant engineering challenges to be addressed before we will see widespread use of these systems. For one thing, we need a way for people to power the suits without having to plug themselves in every half an hour.
Bionic Bodies: Why the Future for Quadriplegics Looks So Bright
The ultimate goal is to build a robotic vest for the whole body. A person's brain activity will control movement of the limbs.
Exoskeletons are Coming, Even Walking to Town
With technological advancements, we currently have what most would consider Star Trek-like machinery to help paraplegics walk. This bionic devices, skeletons on the exterior similar to arthropods (think scorpion), are attached to the person enabling him or her to take his or her first few steps in years.
Exoskeletons Could One Day Help Paralyzed People Climb And Turn
But first, scientists have to figure out how to make exoskeletons flexible.
Now Is The Time For Robotics
As a company that has been “fighting the good fight,” pioneering the practical application and commercialization of exoskeleton technology for many years now, we applaud what the Walk Again Project has undertaken. They are shooting for the moon with the conviction that at some point you just have to aim high in the name of progress toward a better tomorrow. They seek to demonstrate the feasibility of using a brain machine interface to control human exoskeletons.
The Exoskeleton's Hidden Burden
A growing number of companies are developing assistive technologies to help disabled people walk—but these devices can distract from infrastructure changes that would make cities more disability-friendly.
Exoskeletons Will Be the Eyeglasses of the 21st Century
But soon enough, a previously paralyzed person will toddler walk across the room thanks to an exoskeleton. Then someone a little later will stride with cybernetic confidence. Exoskeletons will become standard gear in certain professions.
Esko Bionics
Ekso Bionics develops technology to enhance human mobility, strength, and endurance.
ReWalk Robotics
ReWalk Robotics is an innovative medical device company that designs, develops and commercializes powered solutions which provide gait training and mobility for individuals with lower limb disabilities.
Cyberdyne
HAL® Therapy is the medical service with Robot Suit HAL® to provide medical treatments for functional improvement of patients with cerebral, nervous and muscle disorders including spinal cord injury and cerebral embolism.
Hocoma
Global market leader for the development, manufacturing and marketing of robotic and sensor-based devices for functional movement therapy.
Marsi Bionics
60 million people in the world have lost walking ability. 17 million are children affected by a number of neurological diseases. While wheelchair bounded, they suffer from a number of physiological and psychological side effects. Their quality of life could be largely improved if walking could be repaired, restored or rehabilitated. Marsi Bionics works towards this goal.
Reha Technology
Reha Technology is a leader in advanced medical robotic technologies for rehabilitation of upper and lower extremity neurological movement disorders.
Wandercraft
Atalante is the hands-free robotic exoskeleton. It is self-balancing: it creates its own balance and is used without crutches.
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