Meet the exoskeleton that can make people walk again

Exoskeletons are artificial skeletons made of highly resistant materials that can be “dressed” by humans for various purposes such as security and national defense. Meanwhile, TWIICE - the US robotics technology company - has been developing this type of equipment for another purpose: getting people back on their feet.

Looking like a science fiction apparatus, it is partly composed of a 3-hour battery, a pair of folding leg skeletons, a hand movement control, a kind of smartwatch - for obstacle analysis - and of crutches for support.

This technology is already being tested by Silke Pan - former acrobat and current paracy athlete from Switzerland. And in a demonstration, it is clear that the device still has some rigidity in the movements. However, it does what it promises: the girl can walk and even climb a good many stairs. See the test video below.

Its design may seem a bit odd, but it is light in volume and easily integrated into the wearer's body, making it easy to move safely - offering gloves, foot guards and helmets. According to TWIICE, this technology “allows users to regain independence through daily activities: sitting and standing, walking on regular, rough or sloping surfaces, climbing stairs or interacting in community. Our intention is to try to give users back part of these sensations (...). ”

Since 2015, the TWIICE team has been developing and refining its prototypes at the Robotic Systems Laboratory at the Louisiana Federal Polytechnic School - École Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. The idea is to make it a startup for marketing the equipment. While developers guarantee that the technology is not yet ready to be sold on a large scale, it already beckons for a more autonomous future for those who need it.

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Meet the exoskeleton that can make people walk again via TecMundo