Robot suits in Japan...

powerslave84 · 09-17-2008, 10:15 AM

http://web-japan.org/trends/07_sci-tech/sci080822.html

Quote:

Japan is a world leader in robotics, and in October 2008 a Japanese company will become the first in the world to begin mass-producing a robot that assists humans in moving their limbs. A research team led by University of Tsukuba Professor Sankai Yoshiyuki has developed the device, which is called Robot Suit HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) TM. Sankai is the CEO of Cyberdyne Inc., the company that plans to begin making this robot suit available for rental through sales outlets.

How the Robot Suit Works
Manufacturing robots and realistic humanoid robots are just two of the numerous kinds of robots that are already in use. A robot suit is a wearable device that dramatically increases the strength of the wearer. Robot Suit HAL is worn over the arms and legs and assists body movement through eight electric motors attached to shoulders, elbows, knees, and the waist.

As it supports the wearer's own limb movements, the robot suit must detect how the wearer is trying to move his or her arms and legs and quickly respond. Most of the robots that have been developed so far in this field rely on sensors to detect motion and then activate motors.

This method, however, has some drawbacks. First, there is a slight time lag from when the wearer moves a muscle to when the robot responds. Second, people who are unable to move their arms and legs can't use such a robot at all. These issues had been viewed as obstacles to a wide commercialization of robot suits. Robot Suit HAL, however, has overcome these limitations using a unique method that senses bioelectric signals sent from brain, rather than detecting muscle movements.

When you want to move your body, your brain sends out an electric signal that is received by your muscles, which then contract, thus producing motion. This electric signal travels to the muscles via the body's nerves, generating a slight voltage of electricity on the surface of the skin. This is known as a bioelectric signal, and Robot Suit HAL detects them using the sensors placed around the wearer's body. Depending on the voltage running the surface of the skin, the computer inside Robot Suit HAL analyzes the signal and sets the appropriate motors in motion.

A Variety of Potential Uses
This unique method of operation means that a person can control Robot Suit HAL by his or her own will, even if he or she is unable to actually move. And as the suit detects the signal sent from the brain even before it gets to the muscle, it can move an instant before the muscle does.

When a person wearing Robot Suit HAL picks up an object that weighs 40 kg, he/she feels as if it weighed only a few kilograms. Robot Suit HAL is therefore expected to have a wide range of applications, such as assisting carers, helping people with physical disabilities to move, and assisting people performing jobs that require a great deal of physical strength. In order to facilitate the commercialization process, Professor Sankai and others formed Cyberdyne Inc. in 2004. In October 2008, the company plans to move into a factory currently under construction that will allow them to manufacture up to 500 suits a year.

Several other types of robot suits are also under development in Japan. Toyama Shigeki, a Professor of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, leads a team that is currently developing a power-assist suit, which will be used to help agricultural work. Their goal is to place the product on the market within the next few years. In addition, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. has set up Activelink Co., a venture business, to work to develop power-assist suits. (August 2008)

Sweet, looks like we're gonna be getting some MJOLNIR armor soon.

**SirBenoit** · 09-17-2008, 12:14 PM

yeah i seen this on veoh a while back, its really neat how it could help people... could help with older peps picking up shit, but most likely will be used for wars/ military.

kluang · 09-17-2008, 12:16 PM

Yup Mjolnir armor,

Just what we need a powersuit. Is it bullet proof?

blake · 09-17-2008, 02:45 PM

imagine if japan decidded to start using some of this stuff for warfare

Sevi · 09-17-2008, 05:41 PM

^ You bet your ass they will.

That's pretty badass. Although I doubt it'll out for commercial use for a while.

09-17-2008, 06:26 PM

Using bioelectrical currents, eh? I'm impressed. Hopefully they won't be too expensive.

akuryuken · 09-17-2008, 11:27 PM

OMG ppl can be now Ironman LOLS

kluang · 09-18-2008, 04:57 AM

300 HAL powersuits samurai decide to run amok in L.A............

Seriously, even the prof says its for agro, the potential this suit to kill people is high.

Jaxon · 09-18-2008, 07:43 AM

I love how they called it HAL. Didn't they read 2001?

darrylgm · 09-18-2008, 11:24 AM

WoW what next talking T.Vs

Shad0w_Hunter · 09-18-2008, 11:41 AM

When i was reading this, i was invisioning like...the tuxedo from that jackie chan movie...

Hokage4354 · 09-18-2008, 03:59 PM

Does anybody else think- Real Life Iron man? =O

Spiegel · 09-18-2008, 05:59 PM

I will not be surprised if I see a working Gundam in the future from Japan...

Kina · 09-18-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by article

Sankai is the CEO of Cyberdyne Inc., the company that plans to begin making this robot suit available for rental through sales outlets.

UltimateChaos · 09-18-2008, 06:50 PM

Lol, selling Ironman suits. They are just going to be used for war =/

09-17-2008, 12:14 PM	#2
SirBenoit Sennin Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: cincinnati, ohio, usa, north america, earth Posts: 4,085 Thanks: 300 Thanked 221 Times in 117 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... yeah i seen this on veoh a while back, its really neat how it could help people... could help with older peps picking up shit, but most likely will be used for wars/ military. __________________ my big catch

09-17-2008, 12:16 PM	#3
kluang One Punch Man Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,418 Thanks: 3,186 Thanked 4,658 Times in 2,099 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... Yup Mjolnir armor, Just what we need a powersuit. Is it bullet proof? __________________ To err is human, to forgive, divine. Humans aren't machines... they have souls, feelings. They live, they die, they love, they hate... And yes, they even make mistakes..... When kluang finds you creepy and wrong then you are beyond horrible. He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you. Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Being Malaysian is about driving in a German car to an Indian restaurant for an Indonesian food, then travelling home, grabbing a Pakistani kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. Because we have no originality.

09-17-2008, 02:45 PM	#4
blake Hunter-Nin Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: awesomeville pop. 1 Age: 23 Posts: 1,173 Thanks: 118 Thanked 305 Times in 197 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... imagine if japan decidded to start using some of this stuff for warfare

09-17-2008, 05:41 PM	#5
Sevi Toothpick Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Here and there. Age: 19 Posts: 553 Thanks: 407 Thanked 60 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... ^ You bet your ass they will. That's pretty badass. Although I doubt it'll out for commercial use for a while.

09-17-2008, 06:26 PM	#6
LonelyNinja Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Robot suits in Japan... Using bioelectrical currents, eh? I'm impressed. Hopefully they won't be too expensive.

09-17-2008, 11:27 PM	#7
akuryuken Genin Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Anywhere a mission need to be acomplish Age: 26 Posts: 225 Thanks: 91 Thanked 32 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... OMG ppl can be now Ironman LOLS __________________ Proud member of:

09-18-2008, 04:57 AM	#8
kluang One Punch Man Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,418 Thanks: 3,186 Thanked 4,658 Times in 2,099 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... 300 HAL powersuits samurai decide to run amok in L.A............ Seriously, even the prof says its for agro, the potential this suit to kill people is high. __________________ To err is human, to forgive, divine. Humans aren't machines... they have souls, feelings. They live, they die, they love, they hate... And yes, they even make mistakes..... When kluang finds you creepy and wrong then you are beyond horrible. He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you. Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Being Malaysian is about driving in a German car to an Indian restaurant for an Indonesian food, then travelling home, grabbing a Pakistani kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. Because we have no originality.

09-18-2008, 07:43 AM	#9
Jaxon Groovy. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,393 Thanks: 3,594 Thanked 12,487 Times in 3,669 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... I love how they called it HAL. Didn't they read 2001?

09-18-2008, 11:24 AM	#10
darrylgm Hmmm... Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: England Age: 17 Posts: 575 Thanks: 23 Thanked 101 Times in 72 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... WoW what next talking T.Vs __________________ Muse Wembley Stadium 11th September was AMAZING Proud Member Of Anti-Sasuke F.C! Babe of the Day-Hayden Panettiere

09-18-2008, 11:41 AM	#11
Shad0w_Hunter Hunter-Nin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Over yonder Age: 24 Posts: 1,116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... When i was reading this, i was invisioning like...the tuxedo from that jackie chan movie... __________________ My Fanfictions: Adventures in Lightning Rewritten - A Naruto Fanfic Trials and Tribulations - A Hayate no Gotoku Fanfic My groups: Co-owner: Hatake Kakashi FC Hyuuga Hinata FC

09-18-2008, 03:59 PM	#12
Hokage4354 SOTW Host Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 956 Thanks: 8 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... Does anybody else think- Real Life Iron man? =O __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~ Join Kongregate today!

09-18-2008, 05:59 PM	#13
Spiegel Pirate King Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grand Line (New World) Age: 25 Posts: 4,898 Thanks: 1,068 Thanked 1,604 Times in 846 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... I will not be surprised if I see a working Gundam in the future from Japan... __________________ "Inherited will, the destiny of the age, and the dreams of its people. These are things that will not be stopped. As long as people continue to pursue the meaning of freedom, these things will never cease to be!" -Gol D. Roger Ex-Kakashi87

09-18-2008, 06:50 PM	#15
UltimateChaos AKA: Chaos Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25 Thanks: 16 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Robot suits in Japan... Lol, selling Ironman suits. They are just going to be used for war =/

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