Exoskeleton Exoskeleton (Wearable Robots)(Wearable Robots)

By:-Yash VoraBy:-Yash Vora

What are Wearable Robots?What are Wearable Robots? Wearable robots are people-oriented robots Wearable robots are people-oriented robots

designed to be worn. These robots are designed designed to be worn. These robots are designed around the function and shape of the human around the function and shape of the human body and the human will be able to control the body and the human will be able to control the robotic limbs. This control can assist in walking, robotic limbs. This control can assist in walking, running, jumping higher or even lifting objects running, jumping higher or even lifting objects one would not normally be able to lift. Those one would not normally be able to lift. Those examples are only some of the most basic ways examples are only some of the most basic ways that engineers hope these robots will be used for. that engineers hope these robots will be used for. They hope they can use these robots to assist in They hope they can use these robots to assist in medical care as well as in the military. These medical care as well as in the military. These exoskeletons could help to protect soldiers, exoskeletons could help to protect soldiers, lighten the weight they must carry while also lighten the weight they must carry while also allowing them to move quicker. allowing them to move quicker.

HistoryHistory The first attempt to create a powered exoskeleton came in the The first attempt to create a powered exoskeleton came in the

1960’s. General Electric was the first mover into this field of 1960’s. General Electric was the first mover into this field of exoskeletons. The Hardiman was created by General Electric exoskeletons. The Hardiman was created by General Electric with the intention of being used for bomb loading on aircraft with the intention of being used for bomb loading on aircraft carriers and underwater as well as space construction. carriers and underwater as well as space construction. Unfortunately for General Electric, by 1970 only one arm had Unfortunately for General Electric, by 1970 only one arm had been created. This arm could lift 750 pounds, but itself been created. This arm could lift 750 pounds, but itself weighed almost three quarters of a ton. Each attempt they weighed almost three quarters of a ton. Each attempt they made to create a leg that could easily be lifted failed and The made to create a leg that could easily be lifted failed and The Hardiman was soon dismissed from the developmental world. Hardiman was soon dismissed from the developmental world.

Disruptive TechnologyDisruptive Technology Wearable robots are most definitely a disruptive Wearable robots are most definitely a disruptive

technology. If and when these exoskeletons are technology. If and when these exoskeletons are put into use in the medical and/or military fields, put into use in the medical and/or military fields, we will see life-altering changes to everyone we will see life-altering changes to everyone involved. They are improving upon the field of involved. They are improving upon the field of prosthetics. If a person is in an accident and loses prosthetics. If a person is in an accident and loses an arm or a leg, they could get a prosthetic arm an arm or a leg, they could get a prosthetic arm or leg. The exoskeleton may one day be able to or leg. The exoskeleton may one day be able to replace this prosthetic arm by connecting a replace this prosthetic arm by connecting a robotic arm which would connect to the neurons robotic arm which would connect to the neurons in your brain which would then allow you to in your brain which would then allow you to control the arm as if it were your own. control the arm as if it were your own.

DARPADARPA DARPA, the United States Defense Advanced Research DARPA, the United States Defense Advanced Research

Projects Agency, is funding a $50 million project known as Projects Agency, is funding a $50 million project known as “Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation”. “Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation”.

The DARPA program hopes to allow soldiers to carry larger The DARPA program hopes to allow soldiers to carry larger weapons, protect against enemy fire or chemical attack, weapons, protect against enemy fire or chemical attack, provide stamina and allow for more food, water, provide stamina and allow for more food, water, ammunition and field supplies to be brought along. ammunition and field supplies to be brought along.

It is even believed that one day “exoskeletons may be It is even believed that one day “exoskeletons may be programmed to bring injured soldiers back to base by programmed to bring injured soldiers back to base by themselves.” themselves.”

These exoskeletons will rely on hydrocarbon or chemical These exoskeletons will rely on hydrocarbon or chemical fuels which will allow the soldiers to independently control fuels which will allow the soldiers to independently control the robot in the field the robot in the field

Military Benefits of an ExoskeletonMilitary Benefits of an Exoskeleton

The exoskeleton will protect a soldier from enemy The exoskeleton will protect a soldier from enemy fire by repelling bullets. fire by repelling bullets.

It will also allow the soldier to do more without It will also allow the soldier to do more without getting as tired. This will increase the soldiers getting as tired. This will increase the soldiers efficiency which should allow us to decrease the efficiency which should allow us to decrease the amount of soldiers used which in turn would of amount of soldiers used which in turn would of course prevent the casualties of many soldiers. course prevent the casualties of many soldiers.

If the advancements are made, an exoskeleton If the advancements are made, an exoskeleton may even be able to carry a wounded soldier may even be able to carry a wounded soldier back to base, once again possibly preventing the back to base, once again possibly preventing the death of a soldier. death of a soldier.

You cannot measure the importance of a human You cannot measure the importance of a human life and these wearable robots should be able to life and these wearable robots should be able to prevent us from having to when it comes to the prevent us from having to when it comes to the military.military.

Medical Benefits of the ExoskeletonMedical Benefits of the Exoskeleton Jacob Rosen, an associate professor of computer Jacob Rosen, an associate professor of computer

engineering in the Jack Baskin School of engineering in the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is trying to use his expertise to defeat Cruz, is trying to use his expertise to defeat biomedical problems. biomedical problems.

He hopes to help people who are disabled by He hopes to help people who are disabled by degenerative diseases or stroke. degenerative diseases or stroke.

According to Rosen, "People with muscular According to Rosen, "People with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disabilities dystrophy and other neuromuscular disabilities could use the exoskeleton to amplify their muscle could use the exoskeleton to amplify their muscle strength, and it could also be used for strength, and it could also be used for rehabilitation and physical therapy." rehabilitation and physical therapy."

Assistance in Physical TherapyAssistance in Physical Therapy

The idea of the exoskeleton being used in The idea of the exoskeleton being used in physical therapy will help speed up the physical therapy will help speed up the recovery time because the patient won’t recovery time because the patient won’t have to rely on pre-determined hours set have to rely on pre-determined hours set

forth by a physical therapist. They can forth by a physical therapist. They can work on their recovery at their own pace, work on their recovery at their own pace, which in most cases would be faster than which in most cases would be faster than the pace they would have if they needed the pace they would have if they needed to follow a specific regimen set forth by a to follow a specific regimen set forth by a

physical therapist. physical therapist.

““Haptic” TechnologyHaptic” Technology ““Haptic” technology provides an interface with the user through Haptic” technology provides an interface with the user through

the sense of touch, and using the exoskeleton as a haptic device the sense of touch, and using the exoskeleton as a haptic device has many applications in scientific visualization and manipulation, has many applications in scientific visualization and manipulation, gaming, and simulation. gaming, and simulation.

Haptic feedback is also needed in surgical robotics to give the Haptic feedback is also needed in surgical robotics to give the surgeon a sense of touch as he operates the robot from a surgeon a sense of touch as he operates the robot from a separate console that may be located in a remote site. separate console that may be located in a remote site.

This advancement would help in making an envisioned fully This advancement would help in making an envisioned fully autonomous operating room become reality. The goal is to one autonomous operating room become reality. The goal is to one day allow a surgeon to control an exoskeleton from outside the day allow a surgeon to control an exoskeleton from outside the operating room.operating room.

They believe the exoskeleton would be able to see things that the They believe the exoskeleton would be able to see things that the surgeon may not be able to see from his vantage point if he were surgeon may not be able to see from his vantage point if he were to be doing the surgery alone. to be doing the surgery alone.

While some people argue that it is unnecessary to create While some people argue that it is unnecessary to create something to replace something that isn’t flawed, Rosen believes, something to replace something that isn’t flawed, Rosen believes, “Sometimes you have to provide the tool first, and then people “Sometimes you have to provide the tool first, and then people discover how they can use it.”discover how they can use it.”

Exoskeletons in developmentExoskeletons in development The Berkeley Lower The Berkeley Lower

Extremity Exoskeleton, or Extremity Exoskeleton, or BLEEX, was being created BLEEX, was being created to allow “an exoskeleton to allow “an exoskeleton that combines a human that combines a human control system with robotic control system with robotic muscle”, according to the muscle”, according to the Director of UC Berkeley’s Director of UC Berkeley’s Robotics and Human Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, Engineering Laboratory, Homayoon Kazerooni. Homayoon Kazerooni.

In 2004, BLEEX was the In 2004, BLEEX was the most advanced most advanced exoskeleton, but since exoskeleton, but since then has been overtaken then has been overtaken by competitors.by competitors.

The Landwalker The Landwalker Exoskeleton was Exoskeleton was created by Japanese created by Japanese Robotics Manufacturer Robotics Manufacturer Sakakibara-Kikai. Sakakibara-Kikai.

It stands at 3.4 It stands at 3.4 meters tall and weighs meters tall and weighs an astonishing 1000 an astonishing 1000 kilograms. kilograms.

With guns held at With guns held at each size, this each size, this mammoth of a robot mammoth of a robot would be intimidating would be intimidating to any soldier on the to any soldier on the battlefield.battlefield.

The HAL5, short for hybrid The HAL5, short for hybrid assistive limb, is used for assistive limb, is used for civilian life and is meant to civilian life and is meant to help people who have trouble help people who have trouble walking or lifting objects. walking or lifting objects.

Created by Dr. Sankai, a Created by Dr. Sankai, a professor at the University of professor at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, it is made of Tsukuba, Japan, it is made of nickel and aluminum alloys, nickel and aluminum alloys, along with a thick plastic along with a thick plastic casing. casing.

With 25% of Japan being over With 25% of Japan being over the age of 65 by 2015, this the age of 65 by 2015, this technology is likely to be seen technology is likely to be seen in the streets of Japan in less in the streets of Japan in less than a decade. than a decade.

The HAL5 mimics every move The HAL5 mimics every move of its user while weighing so of its user while weighing so little it is unnoticeable.little it is unnoticeable.

This exoskeleton is called the This exoskeleton is called the Trojan and is being worked on by Trojan and is being worked on by inventor Troy Hurtubise. inventor Troy Hurtubise.

The Trojan is less intellectually The Trojan is less intellectually advanced than the other advanced than the other exoskeletons mentioned above but exoskeletons mentioned above but physically it has no competition. physically it has no competition.

It is the first ballistic proof It is the first ballistic proof exoskeleton. exoskeleton.

It has so far been able to stop It has so far been able to stop bullets, knives, clubs and light bullets, knives, clubs and light explosives. explosives.

The Trojan has an intake fan and The Trojan has an intake fan and an exhaust fan in the helmet to an exhaust fan in the helmet to keep the soldier from becoming keep the soldier from becoming overheated. overheated.

It also has a centered laser pointer It also has a centered laser pointer that can be used when a soldier that can be used when a soldier spots a sniper. He can call back spots a sniper. He can call back and tell his men to “follow the dot and tell his men to “follow the dot and fire” which would easily allow and fire” which would easily allow for the sniper to be taken out. for the sniper to be taken out.

Troy used high impact plastic to Troy used high impact plastic to create this 40 pound protective create this 40 pound protective exoskeleton which he hopes to one exoskeleton which he hopes to one day get a government contract for day get a government contract for and get these out to the American and get these out to the American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Pros and ConsPros and Cons Pros:Pros:

They vary from helping a They vary from helping a disabled person to walk, disabled person to walk, helping in the physical helping in the physical

therapy of a person who therapy of a person who recently suffered a stroke, recently suffered a stroke, using an exoskeleton to using an exoskeleton to

perform surgery while the perform surgery while the surgeon controls the robot, surgeon controls the robot,

allowing a soldier to lift heavy allowing a soldier to lift heavy objects with no problem at objects with no problem at

all, allowing that same soldier all, allowing that same soldier to spend hours in the field to spend hours in the field

without any fatigue setting in without any fatigue setting in and letting them move and letting them move

quicker while carrying more quicker while carrying more food, water, ammunition and food, water, ammunition and supplies. As well as protecting supplies. As well as protecting yourself from bullets, knives, yourself from bullets, knives, clubs and small explosives.clubs and small explosives.

Cons:Cons: The negatives of this The negatives of this technology would be if the technology would be if the enemy of your people got enemy of your people got their hands on it. It is as their hands on it. It is as

simple as that. If the people simple as that. If the people our soldiers are out fighting our soldiers are out fighting can perfect this technology can perfect this technology

before we can then we will be before we can then we will be in plenty of trouble. in plenty of trouble.

Advancements and the FutureAdvancements and the Future The advancements of the technology in the Wearable The advancements of the technology in the Wearable

Robots/Exoskeleton field have been booming in the past 5 years. Robots/Exoskeleton field have been booming in the past 5 years. These exoskeletons have the potential to be life-altering. These exoskeletons have the potential to be life-altering. We once looked at these as being the future, except now it turns We once looked at these as being the future, except now it turns

out that the future is approaching much more rapidly than we had out that the future is approaching much more rapidly than we had expected. expected.

Within the next 5 to 10 years we could possibly see these Within the next 5 to 10 years we could possibly see these exoskeletons out on the battlefield helping, as well as, protecting exoskeletons out on the battlefield helping, as well as, protecting our soldiers. our soldiers.

Further down the road we could also see robotic surgeons in Further down the road we could also see robotic surgeons in operating rooms being controlled by surgeons in another room. operating rooms being controlled by surgeons in another room.

But most likely, even sooner than both of those options, is the But most likely, even sooner than both of those options, is the potential to see these exoskeletons helping the disabled as well as potential to see these exoskeletons helping the disabled as well as people with degenerative diseases. people with degenerative diseases.

The potential for this technology seems endless and the effects it The potential for this technology seems endless and the effects it will have on the human race will be monumental. will have on the human race will be monumental.