Thursday, April 10, 2008

Pneumatic Exoskeleton a very real possibility


I think over the last few years, we all have seen variations on the powered exoskeleton come and go. Though intriguing, one of the major drawbacks is the complexity and weight of these systems. Well here is the new kid on the block that seems to address both of these problems. The Pneumatic powered exoskeleton. As the developers put it - Pneumatic systems are clean, safe, lightweight, and reliable. In a pneumatic electronic hybrid, electric components control the flow of air pressure, removing the burden of weight and kinetic actuation from electric to pneumatic power. The result is a lightweight low idle-power system with high-power kinetic impact. Constructed primarily of soft materials, the device is lightweight, portable, and comfortable. The system is powered by a ‘pony’ size scuba tank and is triggered by the user’s motions through flex and force sensors worn on the body. A force sensor under the foot activates the air muscle around the calf and a flex sensor behind the knee activates the air muscle around the quads.
{via Make magazine}




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