Daejeon: South Korean researchers have developed a lightweight wearable robot that can walk up to and attach itself to paralyzed users, enabling them to walk, overcome obstacles and climb stairs. is
The Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said their goal is to create a robot that integrates seamlessly into the daily lives of people with disabilities.
Kim Seung Hwan, himself a paraplegic and part of the KAIST team, demonstrated a prototype that allowed him to walk at 3.2kph (2mph), climb a flight of stairs and slide down a bench. Helped to step aside.
“It can communicate with me wherever I am, even when I’m in a wheelchair, and can be worn to help me stand up,” Kim said, among its most prominent features. There is one,” Kim said.
The powered exoskeleton, called Walkensuit F1, has an aluminum and titanium structure that weighs 50kg (110lb), and has 12 electronic motors that mimic the movement of human joints while walking.
Park Jeong-su, another member of the KAIST team, said he was inspired by the movie “Iron Man.” “After watching Iron Man, I thought it would be great if I could help people in real life with a robot.”
To ensure the user’s balance while walking, the robot is equipped with sensors on its soles and upper body that monitor 1000 signals per second and predict the user’s intended movements.
Lenses on the front of the robot act as eyes that analyze its surroundings, indicating the height of stairs and obstacles to compensate for the sensory deficits of users with complete paraplegia, Park said. Find out.
Kim Seung-hwan won gold wearing the WalkON Suit F1 in the exoskeleton category at Cybathlon 2024, which saw developers with various physical disabilities demonstrate assistive robots in eight categories.
“I wanted to tell my son … that I was able to walk. I wanted to share diverse experiences with him,” Kim said.