Powered Exoskeleton Legs 385
dyoo78 writes "Berkeley Engineers have come up with an ingenious mechanism that almost mimics, well, Borg technology. Developed by UC Berkeley's Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX) consists of mechanical metal leg braces that are connected rigidly to the user at the feet, and, in order to prevent abrasion, more compliantly elsewhere. The device includes a power unit and a backpack-like frame used to carry a large load. This development bring to the forefront the ability to not only carry large loads in wartime efforts, but may possibly help people with limited muscle ability to walk optimally."
Already in use (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Already in use (Score:2)
Ironically... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ironically... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ironically... (Score:5, Funny)
A rich Texan in an airport sees a mad-scientist type puffing along under the weight of two huge and weighty suitcases. "Say, pardner, what time is it?" he asks. The fellow puts down his suitcases and refers to his watch, a humming black conglomeration of dials and lights with a miniature satellite dish spinning on top. "It's 10:28:32 here, precisely, and..." (the inventor's eyes flicker to a set of displays) "your flight is on time, your rental car is waiting in Dallas, and your wife is cooking ribs for dinner tonight!"
"Holy cow! Sell me that durn thing!" says the Texan, and after some intense negotiations the inventor lets him have it for several million in cash right then and there. The Texan straps the device to his arm and begins to walk away.
"Hold on!" shouts the inventor, pointing to the two colossal suitcases. "You forgot the batteries!"
Re:Ironically... (Score:2)
Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:2, Funny)
or:
The infantry advances with incredible speed towards the enemy, the men running across the battlefield at 50 miles/hour, then suddenly start to hop in circles as a small but significant grin occupies the face of the enemy commander...
[yeah, I know they're not netowrked, yet...]
Simon
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:4, Insightful)
Exoskeletons have been designed before, but no-one dared try them on for just this reason.
Pyhsical Limits (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:5, Insightful)
- You have the leg strength to break your own leg and do so by resisting a machine movement.
- The machine is designed so that it can manouver so as to break a leg. The machine should have a physically limited range of motion which does not exceed the wearers!
So I would have no problem wearing an exoskeleton, if it was designed not to be able to break the human body inside, if it isn'tRe:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:5, Funny)
The same people who brought you the mail client that could execute binary code without user intervention, naturally!
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:2, Insightful)
They could put in some easily breakable
restraints.
so in case the exoskeleton goes malfunctions,
you could easily detacch your legs from it..
or the restraints would break off before
the force would be strong enough to damage your
legs.
Can it stand still? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:3, Interesting)
Oh, that's the kind of thing a smart designer has hammered out in requirements analysis, and the kind of thing a stupid designer will get caught in cert review people. I imagine it really only works in a military review, though, where the human subjects can be commanded to do just about anything, as long as it's reasonable. (And yes, "try to break your legs wearing the exoskeleton" is probably considered reasonable by most military cert types). I just wouldn't expect a civilian model for quite a while.
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Wouldn't want to get a virus (Score:3, Funny)
www.stepmania.com [stepmania.com]
Yeah, but.... (Score:2, Funny)
welcome! (Score:3, Funny)
borg technology or MS assimilating SCO (Score:4, Funny)
heavy loads? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:heavy loads? (Score:5, Funny)
Carrying heavy loads in wartime?
Bush wants his soldiers to carry back the oil a barrel at a time.
Re:heavy loads? (Score:5, Informative)
Super Granny (Score:2)
From Berkeley! (Score:5, Funny)
Worry no more as you march around protesting the cause of the day, as you can taunt the pigs with impunity!
(Hemp-shoe compatibility guaranteed!)
Re:From Berkeley! (Score:2, Offtopic)
All things in moderation. I pick my battles, after learning at about age 17 that there is no way one person can fight all of the world's injustice without going insane and effe
Re:From Berkeley! (Score:3, Insightful)
No. They should change their tactics because they're counter-productive.
And they should stop looking for causes to champion, and stop thinking that tactics that worked for civil rights will work for everything.
You know what would either kill or equalize gobalization? If the protestors would stop trying to riot around the WTO meetings, and start convincing the unions to act on the cause.
Military applications? What about students? (Score:2)
Lockers? I don't need no steeking lockers!
Re:Military applications? What about students? (Score:2)
Excellent. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Excellent. (Score:3, Interesting)
muscles (Score:2, Funny)
This is not new (Score:2)
Re:This is not new (Score:2)
But Does it Run Linux?? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:But Does it Run Linux?? (Score:2)
Although I bet there's room in the backpack to put a knoppix CD or something like that.
Go, Go, Gadget Legs... (Score:3, Funny)
Walkies, Gromit! (Score:4, Funny)
I love the photo (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I love the photo (Score:2)
Re:WTmuthaF? (Score:2)
Janine Melnitz: "Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?"
Winston Zeddmore: "Ah, if there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say."
Wallace and Gromit (Score:4, Funny)
Yes, but he had physical access. (Score:2)
So it was a hardware hack, not a software hack. [But it's the hardware equiv of Back Orifice [cultdeadcow.com]]
Any time to let someone get physical access, especially if it's unsupervised, especially a jewel thief penguin, you're screwed.
I wonder (Score:2)
Re:I wonder (Score:3, Insightful)
Don't forget, strength doesn't negate inertia.
You can go splat insided an exoskeleton just as nicely as you can outside one.
automatically controls itself based on user (Score:5, Insightful)
The researchers point out that the human pilot does not need a joystick, button or special keyboard to "drive" the device. Rather, the machine is designed so that the pilot becomes an integral part of the exoskeleton, thus requiring no special training to use it. In the UC Berkeley experiments, the human pilot moved about a room wearing the 100-pound exoskeleton and a 70-pound backpack while feeling as if he were lugging a mere 5 pounds.
There was a
Interestingly, this thing runs on a gas engine (which powers hydraulics for the powered joints and provides electricity for the computer controls), and:
The current prototype allows a person to travel over flat terrain and slopes, but work on the exoskeleton is ongoing, with the focus turning to miniaturization of its components. The UC Berkeley engineers are also developing a quieter, more powerful engine, and a faster, more intelligent controller, that will enable the exoskeleton to carry loads up to 120 pounds within the next six months. In addition, the researchers are studying what it takes to enable pilots to run and jump with the exoskeleton legs.
I want my robot body now please. Price?
As predicted by Robert A. Heinlein! (Score:4, Informative)
Looks like Mr. Heinlein has done it again. He predicted more then a half century ago that the interface for a an exoskelton (which is what the powered armour in ST is) would be through a force feedback system, shere the suit reads human movement and then reacts to it. Thus very little special training is required to use the powered suit, or exoskelton.
Robert A. Heinlein was also the guy that invented the water bed.
Re:As predicted by Robert A. Heinlein! (Score:2)
Re:As predicted by Robert A. Heinlein! (Score:5, Insightful)
Mucho deserved props to Heinlein et al., but it's the "nobodies" in academic institutions (PhD's and don't forget those indentured servants, aka grad students) and the tinkerers in garages that really make the world go round. Heinlein gets the fame, but sorry, he shouldn't get the credit.
Bollocks, Popular Mechanics circa 1960 (Score:3, Informative)
The article included actual photographs of actual working (though tethered by hoses to a static power pack) units that were being developed by/for the US Army.
I cannot remember the axact issue or year because I was a mere sprog and my dad used to buy the occassional pop mechanics, but it was early sixties.
This was 45 years ago people....
Please don't tell me I'm the only fart on
Now that is one sweet video (Score:5, Interesting)
Obviously the future of movement and an important first step, no pun intended.
So we've got a unit that can carry up to 120lbs of weight. Figure a few more lbs and it may now be able to 'support' a man whos legs no longer work properly. Although this design is based upon feedback from a proper leg to calculate where it is supposed to move/balance.
The old quote about the yellow pages- let your fingers do the walking- may soon become far more true than you've realized... especially for those born or brought to wheelchair bound.
Ripley would be pleased... (Score:2)
Centre of balance (Score:5, Interesting)
We are on our way... (Score:5, Insightful)
This technology could easily make it possible for soldiers to carry very heavy armor that could possibly protect them from most all small arms fire and possibly even some heavy fire. All the while carrying heavy machine guns and small autoloading cannons that these days require crews to move and operate.
Which end you want to be on? (Score:3, Insightful)
Personally, one would imagine that faced with the possibility of fighting such a foe that most governments would most likely reconsider any potentially hostile activity towards such an equipped government.
Of course, such is the march of human progress. One could argue forever that military forces and armed conflict do nothing but ill for
Re:We are on our way... (Score:3, Insightful)
RPG rounds cost a whole lot more than AK rounds.
It gets increasingly less practical to fight against modern armies due to the massive supply expense, even if you have a giant contingent of Angry Young Men(tm).
I'm not really sure how this is a "cycle" though.
Hmmmm (Score:4, Funny)
But can he LIMBO!
Obligatory Onion reference (Score:3, Funny)
any bets? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:any bets? (Score:2)
Similar (Score:2)
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99
Re:Similar (Score:2)
One step closer to Metroid (Score:2)
wrestling (Score:2, Funny)
Forget the Matrix or Borg, this is... (Score:4, Interesting)
I found it interesting to use the term "Pilot" for the user/wearer - especially in light that the exoskeleton is designed to be used with apparently little training.
It's nice to see that we are taking the first steps (excuse the pun) to fight back after space insects destroy Buenos Aires.
myke
Poor cripple in school (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Poor cripple in school (Score:5, Insightful)
How do you figure one could quickly, easily and tracelessly hack a system whose only accessible inputs are things like pressure sensors?
At last! The proper tool for the job. (Score:3, Funny)
Aliens Cargo (Score:2)
Which by the way seems much more efficient than a forklift.
So now they can do a bulky exo-skeleton, but can they slim it down and make it an exo-suit?
Got to love the advances of technology.
Who says sci-fi doesn't get it right.
What would be really cool... (Score:5, Interesting)
Yea, I know, long way to get there from here, but it's a promising first step. Certainly worth some research dollars in my opinion.
Video Clip Mirrors (Score:3, Interesting)
Each video is basically a guy walking around in circles for a minute or so. So if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.
Bleex-part1.mpeg [alchurch.net](18)
Bleex-part2.mpeg [alchurch.net](21 meg)
Bleex-part3.mpeg [alchurch.net](23 meg)
[/karmawhoring]
Berkley students are good at two things. (Score:2)
Real reason for designing this (Score:5, Funny)
Enough power to carry the power source .. barely. (Score:3, Insightful)
needs is so heavy that a guy wearing the skeleton+power pack looks
the way I do when I carry 30+ kilos and no exoskeleton! In other words,
he would be much better off if he left the exoskeleton+power back
behind, and carried on using natural power only.
As with a lot of other cool devices, the really big problem is the need
for compact, efficient, lightweight power sources.
They currently don't exist.
Power Assist Suit (Score:2, Interesting)
Japan's already built one... (Score:2, Informative)
Hybrid Assistive Leg [tsukuba.ac.jp]
Finally! (Score:2)
Broken Legs (Score:5, Interesting)
Having just broken my ankle recently, I could see how - if priced right - this technology would be great for patients recovering from leg injuries.
I'm wondering how well it actually supports the legs. Assumedly, one could splint or cast the broken part of the leg/ankle/etc, and allow the mechanics to take weight off the broken areas.
Even if it weren't useful for an actual break, it would definately be great for the recovery process. I'm getting my cast off tomorrow, but I can see that my muscle atrophied rather quickly. 5 weeks, and my once well-formed muscles are now rather thin (the other leg got a lot stronger though).
An exoskeleton would assist the weak muscles, while the movement should force movement which would strengthen them over time. I'd go for one if I could get it!
Mechwarrior (Score:4, Interesting)
On a serious note, that's what this is on the way too. Someone above mentioned that this will enable soldiers to carry very heavy armour that can protect them from most small firearms. Soon, there will be arm exoskeletons and then after that we'll have complete exoskeletons, and at some point, the machines will end up looking like the Mechwarrior machines with missiles and automatic machine guns.
Though it would be nice to think of the possibilities on a humane side. Helping people who've lost the ability to walk, to walk again. But that not what provides the money (the large amounts needed to really propell this). This should make basketball actually watchable again
Re:Mechwarrior (Score:4, Insightful)
I agree with you about the basketball thing through. Kind of like the basketball game in 'Flubber'!
Dual-use (Score:3, Interesting)
A mech could, quite reasonably, lift parts of fallen buildings to rescue people, disassemble roadblocks, dig irrigation canals, replace pipes...
As with human bipedalism, the advantage would be adaptablity. Three fingered hands alone would be able to handle very large custom tools like shovels, as well as any debri that hap
Too light . . . (Score:3, Interesting)
the problem I see with many "cool" inventions (Score:2)
Now I'm all for helping people with disabilities and all but if they build this with the military in mind they'll most likely not have an invention which is affordable to someone on disability.
NASA Use? (Score:2)
Would this be something good to build into space suits for exploring places like MARS or the Moon?
Imagine - a single astronaut being able to carry hundreds of pounds of equipment without even noticing it! Want to move the lander? Have three astronauts pick it up and move it.
Giggle Test (Score:2)
This justification does not pass the giggle test.
Balance issues... (Score:3, Insightful)
They obviously still have a lot of work to do...
Safety cable in video (Score:3, Interesting)
A Forest Gump Training Kit (Score:3, Funny)
Futurama quote (Score:3, Funny)
"Bite my shiny metal ass!"
Cool - I got my Masters from this Prof (Score:3, Informative)
Excuse me while I shamelessly try to attach myself to work that I can take no credit for.
Professor Kazerooni was my Masters Advisor while at Berkeley in 96-97. His lab is filled with completed and partially completed robotic mechanisms. He and his students have been working on things like this for years. Just to give you an idea of the advancements, check out the arms [berkeley.edu] and legs [berkeley.edu] of his Electric Power Extender. These things are a lot closer to any Mech than the BLEEX. Then again, these things were attached to several Pentium era PCs and several LARGE wall mounted power racks. The reduction in size is remarkable. Imagine walking into the lab and seeing these big, shiny, robotic legs hanging in the middle of the room for the first time. It is a very cool "oooh" and "ahh" experience.
I'm a little disappointed that the project I and others worked on is not on his main page. [berkeley.edu] Oh well.
A can of worms waiting to happen (Score:3, Funny)
I don't know if it has been mentioned or not... (Score:3, Interesting)
Servo Magazine [servomagazine.com] (an offshoot of Nuts and Volts - dedicated to robotics) is sponsoring a competition called "Tetsujin 2004" - aka "Iron Man" - a powered exoskeleton competition, October 21-23, in Santa Clara, CA.
From what I can gather, I imagine it to be basically what happens when you take powered exoskeletons, and combine them with allure of battle robotics (aka, BattleBots, Robot Wars, BotBash, etc). Essentially, let's see what "garage-level" robotics engineers can come up with in the spare time.
I think its going to be interesting - seeing how battle robotics have almost single-handedly brought back hobby robotics from the brink...
Check it out - deadline for registration is in June...
20 Years Ago (Score:3, Informative)
Only a few weeks later, on the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather read the story of her wedding, with video footage showing her indeed walking up the aisle alone using this device. That was one of the two times I've seen Dan Rather cry on camera (the other being during Apollo 8's reading of Genisis during the first orbit of the moon). CBS made a TV movie based on this, called "First Steps".
I mean, more power to the troops. I carried enough gear enough miles during my enlistments to know how much this would be appreciated. But there's far better uses for this device, and I hope they'll focus as much on those.
I'm glad I didn't submit this as it was. I decided to try to find out what ever happened to Nan Davis. It was surprisingly easy, and came from a surprising source: http://jfs.ohio.gov/women/essayContest/essays2001
Re:Dupe? (Score:5, Informative)
This suit enhances strength and load-bearing capability. The jet-shoes enhanced speed alone. There was no back brace or luggage compartment - just big-ass loud shoes :)
Then again, there was the spring-loaded running suit those guys made. It retained almost as much energy running as a Kangaroo (one of the most efficient runners on the world). With it, people could run really fast and jump high, all without power. True, it was massive and you'd look a dick wearing it, but technologically fantastic.
Re:Dupe? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Dupe? (Score:3, Informative)
Short of it being used for a Burningman [burningman.com] Project, I think it's life is over. (Sniff...)
Re:"Haven't you ever seen a little boy..." (Score:3, Funny)
certain gives new meaning to "Run, Forest, Run!"
Re:"Haven't you ever seen a little boy..." (Score:3, Funny)
Of course, there's nothing like curing goons chasing you on bikes... by using your powered exoskeletal legs and arms to rip their ugly pink fleshsticks from their sockets.
"It's Payback Time!"
- The Terminator
Re:A bit noisy? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Thank God (Score:2)
reminds me of a simpsons episode, where homer proclaims that "here I am using my legs like a sucker!"