Exmovere's wearable Chariot: for the mild-mannered cyborg

What does it take to make robotic exoskeletons look like a quaint relic of the past? This -- a new wearable transportation device concept that Exmovere Holdings has dubbed the Chariot. Apparently, the device is specifically intended to help amputees and people that have difficulty standing, with a range of sensors used to let the wearer control the device at speeds up to 12 miles per hour with a minimum amount of physical effort. Better still, Exmovere looks to have even more ambitious plans for production versions of the device, including on-board vital sign sensors, built-in wireless and cellular connectivity and, yes, even specialized versions for military and law enforcement customers. Head on past the break for more evidence of the future.

Update: As commenter Videoranger Commander has noted, the device in the picture is almost certainly a fake -- it's actually the bottom of a Showbots uniform. Lame. What's interesting is that Exmovere put out a full press release, so we're guessing the company was just hoping no one would catch this little lie while they work on a real product -- if one actually exists.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 7:40AM]

NOTE TO MR. DONALD MELANSON

Sir,

It amazes me that you would pretend to practice responsible journalism and accuse this Wearable Transport Chariot to be a "Fake" on the grounds that it is associated with an entertainment product called Showbot.

Have you perhaps considered that your revelation is about as astute as stating that the person who is selling Oxygen Bottles is a fake, because Oxygen already exists in the atmosphere!

Had you given yourself a few moments to contemplate the virtues of your proud investigating reporting, and the hurtful impact which such comments might bear upon the hard working folks who prepared for this announcement, you might have had the revelation that the Showbot is in fact the result of very hard and dedicated work to produce a wearable self-balancing base, which in this expression is indeed used quite safely to transport an entertainer in a robot costume. Might it then occur to you sir, that such a technology could, with the assistance of additional sensors and engineering, be adapted to a variety of other important markets, including that of transporting - with dignity - a person who is physically impaired, or individuals in need of practical transportation technologies which offer a variety of physical advantages, not the least of which are an upright position, a very small footprint, and the protection of a lower body enclosure...

Have you per chance attended one of the presentations held by Exmovere Holdings sir? If so, then you are surely better informed than that, having of course met the man who produced the Showbot, and who is presently participating in the Exmovere Holdings presentations. Indeed, you are therefore assured that there is absolutely no foul play afoot here, and that no one is hiding the fact that the present model being demonstrated is the result of very hard work produced by the Showbot creator. It is also the introduction of a Wearable Assistive Transportation Chariot with a multiplicity of applications other than "entertainment". As you are aware, that is the business at hand here, and the reason why Exmovere is not selling the concept of an entertainment robot at their presentation.

If on the other hand, you have not attended one of Exmovere Holdings presentations sir, and your derogatory statements are born purely out of a desire to position yourself as an expert journalist exposing some sort of improper business conduct, then surely, you must apologize to both Exmovere and Showbot for such improper behavior on the part of an otherwise respected Engadget reporting site.

The bottom line Mr. Melanson is that you need to visit Exmovere personally and experience the Chariot. Through that experience, a different reality will be unveiled to you; that of a wearable transportation device which is - as reported - demonstrating an ability to successfully transport a human being, with very responsive and intuitive controls, not requiring the user to employ hands and arms, while offering protection to one's lower body if a person is afflicted with various physical challenges or operating such a vehicle in environments worthy of such added protection and flexibility. You will also note Mr. Melanson, that the Chariot (or the vehicle associated with the Showbot if you prefer to inform the universe that Oxygen is already in existence in the earth's atmosphere), happens to be a wonderful and promising Wearable Assistive Vehicular concept for a good variety of applications and an equally good number of markets.

Having personally met and worked with the creator of the Showbot, I can tell you - as an eye witness - that the Showbot is no smoke screen, as your negative reporting would lead one to believe, but a truly functional vehicle which transports its performer as described. Its creator is a most talented and hard working individual, and he is the one assisting Exmovere with these presentations at this very moment. Thus, no one is misrepresenting anyone, and this Exmovere announcement is indeed the beginning of a technology with a bright future and a great many redeeming applications.

May I recommend that you personally contact Exmovere Holdings and arrange for a live demonstration of the Chariot sir? I am confident that you will be assured of its existence, its virtues, and its reality. The people at Exmovere and Showbot have both worked very hard, and neither company deserves this form of theoretical journalism.

Respectfully
Robert Doornick, CEO
International Robotics, Inc.