Cyberdyne launch robot exo-skeleton

Mike Halsey | Oct 26, 2009 | View Comments

I thought that one might get your attention, but seriously, I’m not kidding! Japanese firm Cyberdyne have launched a new exo-skeleton to help “expand and improve physical capability.”

The suit is aimed at the elderly, of which Japan has a great many, to help them get about. Rather chillingly named HAL, it catches nerve signals sent from the brain to muscles and uses them to control a series of motors to help you move.

When a person attempts to move, nerve signals are sent from the brain to the muscles via motoneuron, moving the musculoskeletal system as a consequence. At this moment, very weak biosignals can be detected on the surface of the skin. "HAL" catches these signals through a sensor attached on the skin of the wearer. Based on the signals obtained, the power unit is controlled to move the joint unitedly with the wearer’s muscle movement, enabling to support the wearer’s daily activities. This is what we call a ‘voluntary control system’ that provides movement interpreting the wearer’s intention from the biosignals in advance of the actual movement. Not only a ‘voluntary control system’ "HAL" has, but also a ‘robotic autonomous control system’ that provides human-like movement based on a robotic system which integrally work together with the ‘autonomous control system’. "HAL" is the world’s first cyborg-type robot controlled by this unique Hybrid System.

It’s a neat idea but I can’t help feeling that the company and product names might count against it in the eyes of consumers.