NASA Envisions Ironman-Like Exoskeleton For Walking
Exoskeletons have fascinated us at least since the first two Alien movies in which Ellen Ripley commands a power loader robot.
More recently we may think of Tony Stark as Iron Man wearing robotic suit. NASA said that it uses the same idea, albeit with a different intention. The X1 robotic exoskeleton won't lift heavy cargo boxes and it won't provide superpowers. Instead it is intended to be an exercise device for astronauts in space.
The X1 is worn over the legs and is tied to a harness that stretches over the shoulder of a person. There are motorized joints at the hips and the knees, and passive joints that allow for sidestepping, turning and pointing, and flexing a foot. The total weight is about 57 pounds. For now, NASA envisions the X1 to be a device to keep space crews in good shape while on extended missions to an asteroid or possibly to Mars.
However, the model could also work down here on Earth, NASA said, and help individuals to walk. "It's exciting to see a NASA-developed technology that might one day help people with serious ambulatory needs begin to walk again, or even walk for the first time," said Michael Gazarik, director of NASA's Space Technology Program. "That's the sort of return on investment NASA is proud to give back to America and the world."
The X1 exoskeleton was developed by NASA in collaboration with The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition as well as engineers from Oceaneering Space Systems in Houston.
And I do beleave something like this is currently under trials for the United States Military. (Can't recall the name of it)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA
was expecting the Mark 3 and above......or the War Machine
Anyways, i can easily imagine a 300lb obese you-know-which-nationality person just destroying this thing under their own body weight, or not being able to even wear it cuz it doesn't fit
Astronauts and athletes are just about the only people in that country who could wear it as it is in that picture, oh and some actors
No, I was talking about what it's called, not who is testing/making/using them. I know what DARPA is and what they do. =/
It differs a bit in design from the one that NASA is trying. The military one isn't as complex. It's mainly ment to help take some of the weight off you and allow you to carry more, while this NASA one looks to help you move around without or very little weight.
Edit: I found it. It's called "Human Universal Load Carrier" or HULC for short and it's made by Lockheed Martin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y1CeBOWm67A
As you can see it's slimmer and this new X1 is more than likely based off of the HULC's tech.
Exact same feeling. Soon as I saw it, the Long Fall boot came to mind.
Meanwhile in Japan, Cyberdyne is making a robotic suit named HAL.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/cyberdyne-robot-hal-exoskeleton,18571.html
Its only a matter of time now. These technologies will combine and obliterate us all.
I'm guessing you're a better person though, right? Too bad you've never heard the saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!" but I guess where you're from (you-know-where) people are all as ignorant and stupid as you?
Anyway, sticking to the article! It's a pretty cool advancement. Given its taken a while for tech like this to actually evolve to it's current state, though I do know of multiple projects that share a similar goal. Keep on it NASA, maybe do some joint research (no pun intended) with some of the other engineers from say Japan, etc. etc. You should have that thing kicking in no time!
Has anyone told you yet today that you're a ninny? Because you are.
They already have devices for the big peoples. They are called scooters. Just visit a local wal mart and you will see lots of big people using them.
LOL, I was just thinking "Here's my Sunday Best! Proton Cannon!"