Japanese Robotic Exoskeleton Pumps You Up!
With CES wrapping up today, I'm going to take a little break from covering news from the show floor to bring you some kick ass robotics technology from Japan: Tokyo University has developed a "power-assist robot suit" that makes heavy lifting a breeze.
Developed to help the aging farmer population in Japan, the exoskeleton is the stuff of many an anime, with 8 different motors and real-time sensors combining to make heavy objects seem to weigh only 10 kg. (22 lbs.)
The cute guy wearing the robot suit in the picture is 25 year old Tokyo University grad student Ryosuku Tanaka effortlessly lifting a 20 kg. (44 lbs.) bag of rice with the help of the suit at the unveiling on January 9.
The suit can also help with pulling tasks (such as pulling stubborn Daikon raddishes from the ground) and with tasks that require a lengthy amount of muscle tension, like pruning trees (where holding your arms up makes them very tired.)
The research team hopes to make the robot suit available within 4 years, at a projected cost of ¥500,000 to ¥1,000,000 ($4,500 to $9,000) each.
高齢者の農作業対策、ロボットスーツ開発 東京農工大 [産經新聞(Sankei Shinbun)]
[via: Pink Tentacle]
Den Den Boy
Posted to In the World, On Your Body on 10 January 2008
· Comments (1)
Other stuff like this: exoskeleton, Japan, robot suit, Tokyo University
If it ain't broke... cease production. Right?
I can't wait till they come out with the commercial version.. you know with lasers and guns. Skynet will be pleased.