New NASA Robot Could Help Paraplegics Walk 30
coondoggie writes "NASA said today it has helped develop a 57-lb robotic exoskeleton that a person could wear over his or her body either to assist or inhibit movement in leg joints. The X1 was derived from the NASA and General Motors Robonaut 2 project and the could find applications as an in-space exercise machine to supply resistance against leg movement more importantly as a way to help some individuals walk for the first time."
Great Example (Score:5, Insightful)
This is why we need research groups like NASA. This is why we need manned space flight. The spinoffs from the tech help all mankind.
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Research groups yes, manned space flight not necessarily.
What made (and makes) NASA important isn't that it has to do with space. Sure, space is cool and there's a lot to learn, but space itself isn't what's driving everything here. Rather it's Research into fundamental sciences and new frontiers. Back in the 50/60s, space was relatively unknown. We weren't all that sure what would really happen if we sent someone or something up into space for any length of time. We had some models and idea, but it
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but NASA is exploring new frontiers and fundamental science, the fundamental laws of physics, including exotic matter, general relativity, gravity's mechanisms.
And even in the realm of traditional engineering, what about for example the "sky crane" system employed to put the latest rover on Mars? that is leading and bleeding edge of several fields.
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Links?
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Bullshit.
We don't need to spend billions on space exploration on the off chance that it may offer some benefit to mankind.
If the same kind of money that went into this NASA project was directly aimed at helping paraplegics we could have found cures rather than glorified crutches.
I don't buy the whole "Let's validate spending trillions in space exploration because it might offer some side-effects that benefit of mankind",
If you want to save mankind, spend billions on the problems we face every day. If you w
Glee (Score:2)
Re:Glee (Score:4, Informative)
That was a ReWalk for Argo
http://www.argomedtec.com/technology.asp [argomedtec.com]
The ReWalk isn't robotic this one from Nasa is robotic. The difference is Rewalk is passive and merely supports the user, while the Nasa version can add resistance to movement to aid exercise and stop muscle atrophy
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Aliens (Score:3)
If it doesn't look like the Power Loader out of Aliens, I'm not interested.
Imagine going to the shops in one of those. "Would you like us to help you load your car?" "No, thanks. I think I have this."
No, no it couldn't... (Score:4, Insightful)
I hate to be a pessimist, but it's my understanding that there's no real technological hurdle that needs overcoming in terms of getting a strength-assist exoskeleton.
Sure, some fine tuning. You know, making sure that it doesn't break the user's bones and all that. But nothing too technically complicated.
It gets slightly more complicated if you're wanting a pure machine-brain interface rather than it being controlled through some other arrangement. But we've seen stuff like this already. The brain adapts well to new stimuli, and I'm sure somebody will get all the kinks worked out of that at some point not too far away.
The problem, as far as I'm aware, is with the power source. Battery technology has been stuck at roughly the same point for decades now. The weight to power-concentration ratio just isn't there.
So unless this story is actually about Nasa figuring out coke-bottle-sized cold fusion, then (unfortunately) go read this post's subject line.
Wrong Trousers (Score:2)
That's what Wallace thought, but Gromit knew better.
Expect this to be implemented mostly by... (Score:1)
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Who do you know that can walk at 12mph? Even "power walkers" only walk at 5.5mph.
Jap VS US mecha, who will win? (Score:1)
Assist or INHIBIT (Score:1)
Forget bipedal movement. (Score:1)
If I'm wearing a 60 lb exoskeleton (Score:2)
I'm demanding a missile launcher and a flame thrower attachment.
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I'm demanding a missile launcher and a flame thrower attachment.
I am handicapable, of killing you all! (Read in Arnold accent.)