MIT shows off load-bearing exoskeleton
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 20th 2007 12:46PM
posted September 20th 2007 12:46PM
While it isn't exactly treading new ground, MIT's new exoskeleton looks to boast more than enough robotics-enhanced super strength to garner some attention for itself, not to mention some interest from the folks at DARPA, who funded the project. As with similar systems, MIT's rig is designed to let individuals carry loads far heavier than they are normally able to, in this case taking 80 percent of the weight off an 80 pound load carried on a person's back. Unlike other systems, however, MIT's exoskeleton only requires a very small one watt power source, as opposed to the much larger gasoline engines used on some other rigs. The system apparently isn't quite perfected just yet though, as it currently "impedes the natural walking gait of the person wearing it," something MIT says it plans to improve.
[Via The Register]
[Via The Register]
Make sure to catch Bionic Women on NBC on Wed.
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you put an energy shield around it and i bet some1 will start calling it "mjolnir"
Not quite...not even close...
Besides, Thor has the rights to Mjolnir. He just licenses it out every now and then since Norse gods don't get too much action these days.
I fail to see how this device will enhance my ability to ride my segway. I can't wait till you people get over this whole walking thing.
Berkeley did it.
Not only that, Berkeley did it... _on weed_.
The story isn't that they did it, it's how they did it. Berkeley's exoskeleton used a 3000W internal combustion engine, this uses a single watt power source.
What about the part when said dude who is carrying a heavier-than-normal load and he trips over a rock on the sidewalk? Ouch.
Uh, James Cameron did it in 1986 with the power-loader aboard the U.S.S. Sulaco, and more efficiently, I might add. Geez M.I.T., what's next...tennis shoes that you can pump up?
hoy now, let's not get too far-fetched. pump-up tennis shoes are a long ways away.
"80 percent of the weight off an 80 pound load" Nice! The exoskeleton can support its own weight and that's all?
Popular Mechanics also has something on this post: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4223686.html
Yes, but how fast can you run away from a bomb with that thing strapped on?
Is that a bionic leg in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
For years, my backpacking friends have searched for a way to carry 100 beers into the wilderness. Finally, technology comes to the rescue
"MIT shows off load-bearing exoskeleton"
Why are you calling him that?
Damn dirty sapes!!!
"Jerry these are load bearing walls they're not going to come down" Kramer
Look at me. Uber Dorkus Maximus.
HAHAHAHAHAHA HAL5 owns that so much :D
Um, shouldn't they be working on an exoskeleton-suit, where each fiber of the suit is like a muscle? That would be cool!
I love this part of the story
"...it currently 'impedes the natural walking gait of the person wearing it,' something MIT says it plans to improve"
Sooo, it only works while standing still?
I would call this a BIG problem!
"impedes your walking gait" just means that you have to walk funny, not that you have to stand still.
Read a book, already!
Anyway, one watt sounds ludicrously low -- I have AA batteries at home that can provide like 3.9 watt-hours of power each. I would love to see the theory behind this thing....
Guess I can get that McGriddle now.
what happens when you are carrying a heavy weight when it suddenly fails? Ouch!
I have created one of these that I intend to patent so I can't give you guys any details but, I can say that I'm thinking of calling it "the wheel"
I read the source article, and they mentioned an augmentation that can let you "run without breathing hard" -- it made me think of those things that are like big spring-loaded stilts, but I can't remember the name. It's killing me -- the first time I found out about them, I *really* wanted to buy a pair, but they were kind of expensive, and I think I was a bit too heavy.
Anybody remember what I'm talking about?
Apparently, I should have spent another 2 minutes googling -- I was thinking of Powerisers, and it seems part of the reason I didn't get them before is that while they're big in the UK, it's hard to find American retailers that carry them.
Frickin' awesome idea, though.
can the load bearing exoskeleton help me?i have a spinal cord injury i can stand but have to be holding on to something my balance is a little off,ican walk short distances with awalker,but don't do very good on steep grades or rough ground,i would love to be able to get around normal