Robotic exoskeleton takes over for your lazy muscles

Finally all this research into artificial limbs and human strength augmentation -- as if we'd want to lift stuff -- has resulted in a robotic exoskeleton that doesn't help your muscles do more, but instead allows them to do less. It was designed by researchers at University of Michigan, and is currently being tested on healthy subjects. The ankle exoskeleton is fitted with electrodes which are attached to the wearer's leg muscles and allow the robotics to anticipate muscle movement and perform the action itself. At first a healthy user's gait is disrupted by this extra boost, but after about 30 minutes the person learns to use their own muscles less and have the exoskeleton do most of the walking. We figure similar tests done on a blogger would result in total adaptation in about 7 seconds. Of course, the plan down the road is to use these pneumatic artificial muscles to sense the weaker electrical signals being sent by certain people with spinal injuries or neurological disorders to allow them to move with full strength or to rehabilitate old muscle movements, but that testing has yet to begin, and for now the achievements of this project are purely for the lazy at heart.

[Gil @ Feb 10th 2007 3:13PM]

Just goes to show you how behind we are compared to the japanese in the exoskeleton field.

[Dan Elkayam @ Feb 10th 2007 3:24PM]

I, for one, welcome our new robotic exoskeleton masters.

[s i d @ Feb 10th 2007 3:41PM]

will they make one for 'the only muscle' that's imp. to a man ?

[Nushio @ Feb 10th 2007 3:48PM]

Finally lazy so-called "gamers" can start playing Wii without their lame excuse "but it makes me go tired"

[Azrael @ Feb 10th 2007 3:48PM]

And with that picture the entire world can get a glimpse of what systems and controls work is. I guess with that done, I don't need to do graduate school on it anymore... sweet. Now I can become a cook at waffle house!

Okay, I'm being stupid. Sorry. =P

[Othello @ Feb 10th 2007 5:11PM]

Unfortunately, compressor does not dance.

[Mr. Pibbles @ Feb 10th 2007 5:36PM]

I wonder how high the weight capacity is. After several months eliminating the only exercise I get (i.e., the walk from my computer chair to the bathroom/car [my fridge is next to the computer chair]), my weight would probably increase exponentially, crushing the pneumatic pylons that support my frame...

[BAMF @ Feb 10th 2007 10:18PM]

"Robotic exoskeleton takes over for your lazy muscles"

"At first a healthy user's gait is disrupted by this extra boost, but after about 30 minutes the person learns to use their own muscles less and have the exoskeleton do most of the walking. We figure similar tests done on a blogger would result in total adaptation in about 7 seconds."

Man, I love Engadget. It's comments like these that keep me coming back every day to suckle at the teet of tech-related wit and light-heartedness.

[thesawzall @ Feb 11th 2007 1:59PM]

The US Army is interested in this sort of thing. It would allow soldiers to carry heavier combat loads further or faster.

[Mary @ Feb 11th 2007 6:19PM]

This would be good for people like me that are losing the ability to walk. I'd definitely be up to testing this.

[michael_mccrady @ Feb 12th 2007 2:06AM]

Paul (or if someone could get a message to him),

I am a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Dallas, and would love to get them into trials with children 18 and under. I also know of a man here who just lost the use of 90% of his right side due to surgery that has the time available to help perform tests that would prove the use of it in paralysis patients. He does have miniscule mobility in the leg, and it might help him regain more control in it as the other robotic studies suggest.

Leave a response for me here on how to get in touch with the program manager, if there is one at this time, to set up these appointments.