NationStates Jolt Archive

Remember not too long ago, the Japanese came out with the powered exoskeleton that was in the prototype phase? Big, somewhat clunky, and attached to a whole bunch of computers? Well, according to this article, they're already making it fully mobile and the next phase is to get a guy to carry his patient all the way up the Swiss Alps. And after that, replacing a guy's lost legs with them.

http://ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=61474

Interesting no?

$20,000? That's £11k. Cheaper than many cars.

*Starts saving up*

Can anyone say "Robocop"?

Woohoo!! That's going on my christmas wish list.

Can anyone say "Robocop"?
LOL! That's what I was going to say. Next step, outfitting with cannons and "lasers".

I think setting the suit to 10x user strength may already tax the limits on its power systems.

I think setting the suit to 10x user strength may already tax the limits on its power systems.

Probably. But wait until the military has turned it inside out and upside down, mounted some missiles and a small nuclear power plant...

Okay, just joking about the nuke. But that's the direction this is heading - Starship Troopers, anyone?

Yay!

*chops legs off*

Good riddance, you two!

Two words that will strike fear into the hearts of the world:

Bionic Goofball!

:D

Remember not too long ago, the Japanese came out with the powered exoskeleton that was in the prototype phase? Big, somewhat clunky, and attached to a whole bunch of computers? Well, according to this article, they're already making it fully mobile and the next phase is to get a guy to carry his patient all the way up the Swiss Alps. And after that, replacing a guy's lost legs with them.

http://ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=61474

Interesting no?

Please tell me you aren't on about this: http://www.sakakibara-kikai.co.jp/products/other/LW.htm

Please tell me you aren't on about this: http://www.sakakibara-kikai.co.jp/products/other/LW.htm

Good gosh no. That's a mech. The ones in my link show a proper exoskeleton suit. You know, put it on like a bulky suit of armor and bam! You can lift things double your weight.

It's called Hybrid Assistive Limb, HAL for short
Did anyone else instantly think "2001" when they read this?

Two words that will strike fear into the hearts of the world:

Bionic Goofball!

:D

Your testicles don't need anymore strengthening :p

Ooooh boy, time to start saving.

DEATH TO MY ENEMIES!

I'm actually invisible.

Unless it enables me to live at least 200 years in perfect health, I'm not interested.

Can they absolutely guarantee the impossibility of hyperextension of my limbs at 10x normal human strength? I've already seen, on one of those "amazing video" shows, a football player put his big toe into his navel simply by being tackled and falling funny. I don't wish to share his pain.

Edit:


And believe it or not, sometimes the suit interprets those electrical signals more quickly than the wearer's muscles. In other words, it moves before the human muscle does.


Yeah, it's a computer jumping the gun like that which makes me nervous.

And so we're starting on our way towards Powered Combat Armor :D

If Dear Leader hadn't banned Stem Cell Reseach, we might have gotten ourselves some Astartes.

:D

They'll be blowing up ragheads by '08!

And so we're starting on our way towards Powered Combat Armor :D

If Dear Leader hadn't banned Stem Cell Reseach, we might have gotten ourselves some Astartes.

:D
By the Throne, why'd he have to ban stem cell research!

*Nerdiest post I've ever made on NSG*

Probably. But wait until the military has turned it inside out and upside down, mounted some missiles and a small nuclear power plant...

Okay, just joking about the nuke. But that's the direction this is heading - Starship Troopers, anyone?


I hope so. I imagine by the time my hell raising days are over they'll have powered suits out.

They'll be blowing up ragheads by '08!

It's almost 07 and we're blowing up AQ/Hadj/hezz using light infantry, old fashioned way. Unless I missed something....

Can they absolutely guarantee the impossibility of hyperextension of my limbs at 10x normal human strength? I've already seen, on one of those "amazing video" shows, a football player put his big toe into his navel simply by being tackled and falling funny. I don't wish to share his pain.


It's likely that there will be safe limits installed on the system to prevent things like the servos moving into the suit areas itself. Safety areas or something like that to prevent you from tearing off your head by accident.


Yeah, it's a computer jumping the gun like that which makes me nervous.

Maybe, but if they can standardize the rate of pickup, it would have tremendous potential for exoskeletons and cyber implants. Running faster than you normally could is just one example. It'd take some time to get used to though since your motion perception has to match the speed of the unit.

It's almost 07 and we're blowing up AQ/Hadj/hezz using light infantry, old fashioned way. Unless I missed something....

Yes. You missed the introduction of the 1st Lame-ass Anime Mecha Division.

And so we're starting on our way towards Powered Combat Armor :D

If Dear Leader hadn't banned Stem Cell Reseach, we might have gotten ourselves some Astartes.

:D
These guys? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Marines_(Warhammer_40,000)

It's likely that there will be safe limits installed on the system to prevent things like the servos moving into the suit areas itself. Safety areas or something like that to prevent you from tearing off your head by accident.


Actually, that's another thing to worry about, although I think I would be more worried about said servos attempting to extend things like my elbows or knees further than they are supposed to go. Safety limits and devices and such are nice, but, having been trained in the proper use of firearms (which often employ "safeties"), and being a regular reader of the Darwin Awards, I know that safety devices are good for one and only one thing: failing at exceptionally inconvienient or dangerous moments (often due to, or in combination with, user error). I'm not saying that the technology shouldn't be developed, as it has obvious benefits, especially for the disabled. I just want to see more information on the technology being used/developed to make sure this stuff is safe.


Running faster than you normally could is just one example. It'd take some time to get used to though since your motion perception has to match the speed of the unit.

Plus, the way I understand it, this machine is basically a suit that fits more or less like skin. So, while the machine is moving very fast, my body (limbs and relevant joints) must also necessarily be moving very fast. What kind of stresses would such an application exert on the body? The stress fracture I got as a result of sustained stress exerted from running around a track under my own power is bad enough. What kind of injuries is the operator being exposed to at 10x normal human strength?

Did anyone else instantly think "2001" when they read this?


No, I thought..."what do you think your doing, Dave?"

http://sanlab.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/HAL/indexE.html

See Link.

The suit is developed in conjunction with Cyberdyne Inc.

This is the same name as the corporation which created the AI in the Terminator series. Arnold plays the Cyberdyne model T-800.

Anyone else find this reference?

Can they absolutely guarantee the impossibility of hyperextension of my limbs at 10x normal human strength? I've already seen, on one of those "amazing video" shows, a football player put his big toe into his navel simply by being tackled and falling funny. I don't wish to share his pain.
Yeah, it's a computer jumping the gun like that which makes me nervous.
The machine simply follows the signals you sent from our brain. So it will only jump the gun in so much as it will beat your muscle's response to the same command.

The machine simply follows the signals you sent from our brain.


Understood, however, I'm already capable of hurting myself without mechanical augmentation.

For instance, I can extend my elbow fully, and then continue to flex my triceps, overextending my elbow to the point of causing pain. The purpose of pain, of course, is stop me from continuing with the behavior before injury occurs. If I'm wearing a mechanical exoskeleton, however, the added strength of the overall system may cause me to injure myself even before pain has an opportunity to work. Thus, my own self regulation is clearly insufficient. Extra safeguards must be built into the mechanical system to ensure that I do not accidently overshoot my own physical tollerances. I'm curious to know how such thing can or do work.

I just want to see more information on the technology being used/developed to make sure this stuff is safe.

Well, it's in the testing phase, so we'll have to wait and see.


What kind of injuries is the operator being exposed to at 10x normal human strength?

Well, that depends entirely on how well the thing pads you against inertial impact. And barring that....full cybernatic body. Pacemakers, artificial respirators and a whole host of stuff already exists that substitute the functions of the body. All you have to do is tie it into one human sized package. :p

Well, that depends entirely on how well the thing pads you against inertial impact.

There's that, and then there is the damage being inflicted to joints and other body structures being articulated at superhuman strength/speed. What kind of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome)-ish problems are going to result from that?

Well, it's in the testing phase, so we'll have to wait and see.


My inner cynic simply feels the need to try to point out all the potential fun that their test pilots possibly face. I've been told all my life that I'm supposed to keep the arms and legs out of the machinery, after all. :eek:

I've been told all my life that I'm supposed to keep the arms and legs out of the machinery, after all. :eek:

So you don't get in cars and stuff? :p