Gizmodo
Do you have a refrigerator you need to move? An uncooperative roommate who won't get off the couch and get a job? A need to impress the guys down at the gym with your amazing lifting skills, no matter what? Well, good news, wussbag.
Starting next year in Japan, you'll be able to lease an exoskeleton (the HAL-5, to be precise) for about $590 a month. Originally designed to help the elderly and infirm walk around when they're too weak to do so themselves, it also works great for getting respect when formerly you got none, and, I assume, doing a totally badass version of the robot on the dance floor.
Japan Times [via Medgadget]
Comments
I consider this as same as getting a Segway....
Wouldn't there be a weakness at the grip?
So, no matter how heavy the weight the arms can lift, it would still be limited by what the fingers can grasp.
Evidently it was invented to aid in the transportation of liquid bubblegum.
Did they have to make it look so much like an exoskeleton?
"I know..let's make the disabled look like stormtroopers! But with little Tron-esque glowly rings on the joints! That'll be awesome!"
@LoganSix
They just need to combine it with the MySpoon robotic hand referenced in the same article.
I am going to rent one of these and recreate Chris Cunningham's Bjork video. Hello home-made live-action robot cosplay pr0n!
It being invented in Japan, makes me want it to look like something out of Gundam or something like that.
Nah, he's using it to transport 3 gallons of weaksauce.
I see this being used by the military or construction companies. Pretty cool. But, still pretty far off from Gundam-like use.
domo arigato mr roboto
is there a penis attachment?
Caution: Not intended for opening Pod Bay doors.
Oh sorry. 8,995 more iterations before that disclaimer kicks in.
"Do the rock-a-way...lean back...lean back"
@92BuickLeSabre
Sooo, then it will lift that 500 pound barrel of acid and throw it into the wearers mouth?
"It was a bug, Dave. I feel much better now."
@LoganSix
My bad. I was under the impression this thing was only being used to carry liquid bubblegum and weaksauce.
@Mr.Black
And that's the line I wish I'd posted.
Don't care what any of you say... I'm going to rent one, paint it black and mount a mini gun on the shoulder.. then find the quarterback of my old high school football team and make him pay for the flagpole/underwear incident of 1986.
And what is with the man purse in the front?
@ PencilCup
That's his douche bag
Run Forest! Run!
I won't get interested in Exoskeleton's until they look and act like the yellow lifters from Aliens.
If they can make these with some form of gyros or similar technology to make them "walk by themselves" with no balancing or help required by the operator, these would be an unbelievable life-improver for people who are paralyzed. Just helping old or otherwise infirm people walk is pretty darn cool, right there. I don't think they'd care if it looked like a frickin AT-AT walker out of Star Wars as long as it worked!
Dean Kamens iBot system is pretty cool too, but it's still a wheelchair at heart. This would be something else entirely, assuming it works properly.
Human ingenuity helping people in their daily lives, pretty cool. Would probably be nice to design stuff like this instead of having an average meaningless 9-to-5 job...
So how much longer until an army of paraplegic people is formed?
Didn't they already come out with strips of metal muscles that streched or bent depending on the voltage and/or polarity applied to it? Yeah, a suit made from that stuff would be a real exoskelton suit. And you could wear it under your clothes and look less nerdy.
If I get one I'll rule the World. Muhahaha
DUDE we are getting closer to having Gundams! I WANT!
exoskeleton... check
android servant/lover... pending
flying car... pending
house over the clouds... pending
stupid future... whats taking you so long???
Haven't we learned the folly of naming a robotic device "HAL?"
In Russia, robot wears YOU!
I've always wanted to flip over a parked car. Now my dreams can come true.
"Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?"
@phreakincool
Just buy XXL clothes and wear it over the suit, that way you look like the Diesel at the gym (while wearing clothes at least) and if people ask about your glowy joints, you say:
The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line August 4th, 2007. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug.
Sure, it's robotic, but is it ANGRY!?!
As an EMT, I can see this being useful to people who work in healthcare. We lift folks, and folks can be heavy.
On the other hand, do I want to change in and out of my exoskeleton every time I need to lift a patient? Not so much. Do I want to be wearing an exoskeleton all day? Not so much.
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?