Exoskeleton for the elderly and disabled

Honda has built a miniature exoskeleton Walking Assist Device designed to help people with weakened muscles and musculoskeletal problems move around.

The novelty will make its debut at the international equipment fair for the elderly and disabled Barrier Free 2008, which will open in Osaka on April 25.

Visitors of the exhibition will be able to check for themselves how convenient the new device is to use.

Its miniaturization is the merit of a small and lightweight control system, as well as flat brushless electric motors, also developed by the company itself (trained in creating a walking "iron" on ASIMO robots).

As stated in the company's press release, the device calculates optimal assistance based on the readings of the hip angle sensor.

The company has developed three variations of the Walking Assist Device, slightly different in size, so that people of different heights can comfortably fit the device on themselves.

The average of the "assistants" weighs only 2.8 kilograms.

The other two are a little more and a little less.

The exoskeleton is powered by lithium-ion batteries.

One of their charges is enough for two hours of continuous walking at a speed of 4.5 kilometers per hour.

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23.04.2008