Robotic Exoskeletons May Become Skintight Suits (robohub.org) 33
Slashdot reader Kassandra Perlongo shares an article about "soft robotics and exoskeletons" at the University of Salford, writing "those bulky, mechanical suits could eventually be a thing of the past."
Children with a rare neurological disease were recently given the chance to walk for the first time thanks to a new robotic exoskeleton... But while today's exoskeletons are mostly clumsy, heavy devices, new technology could make them much easier and more natural to use by creating a robotic skin... [Soft robotic devices] are particularly well suited to interaction with humans as they are typically lightweight which means if they collide with a person they are unlikely to cause injury.
We recently developed a new "soft continuum actuator", a joint that bends like an elephant's trunk...if it encounters resistance in one part of its body it will still bend but at a different location elsewhere along its length. By equipping a skintight material suit with these actuators, we can create a soft exoskeleton that bends at the precise location of the wearer's joints. This means the suit will fit a range of users comfortably without needing mechanical adjustment or calibration. Plus, the system is lightweight and can be worn like clothing rather than a bulky mechanical frame.
We recently developed a new "soft continuum actuator", a joint that bends like an elephant's trunk...if it encounters resistance in one part of its body it will still bend but at a different location elsewhere along its length. By equipping a skintight material suit with these actuators, we can create a soft exoskeleton that bends at the precise location of the wearer's joints. This means the suit will fit a range of users comfortably without needing mechanical adjustment or calibration. Plus, the system is lightweight and can be worn like clothing rather than a bulky mechanical frame.
University of Salford (Score:2)
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The University of Salford (formerly the Royal Technical Institute) actually is a quite reputable research university — just not (in)famous, so nobody cares about it in these days of sensationalism.
Also, the idea of a soft-skin robotic exosuit exited the realm of "grad student acid dreams" decades ago, having been found in both theory and fiction since the mid-'80s at least.
Finally, if you actually read the article past the blogger's stock photo header, you would have seen ACTUAL prototype hardware, co
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...and it has a very professional publicity department too.
Use the Journal Luke (Score:2)
There is a place for your post, but that place is not in the comments section of this article.
Log in and make a journal entry, please.
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You quite often make the mistake of assuming that your ignorance of or disinterest in something equates to its lack of importance or validity in the real world, as revealed by generalisations such as this one, which just goes to show you know very little about robotics or physics.
Maybe you should read the article--or if that's too challenging for you, you can look at the pictures--before you go making any greater a fool of yourself.
Or you can just go on as you are, and I'll continue to laugh my ass off at y
Primitive today (Score:2)
However, for quite some years now, I've wondered about the future of such systems. A full powered armored suit would make anyone trained (or perhaps even not so well trained) quite formidable both in terms of work they can do but also damage. Will we have to deal with a
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Sure, for about a minute until the power source dies. Meanwhile, the despicable enemy has opened fire with 1$ bullets.
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See [Japanese] anime Patlabor, about a police division equipped to deal with nutters in power suits.
Speaking of anime... (Score:2)
The tech has huge tentacle applications. [youtube.com]
For Elsewhere ! (Score:2)
My Favorite Martian - showed the suit years ago. (Score:2)
"Robotic Exoskeletons May Become Skintight Suits" (Score:2)
Like this, perhaps?
https://images-na.ssl-images-a... [ssl-images-amazon.com]
Star Trek (Score:1)
The Star Trek Borg were right: Seven of Nine's outfit WAS the most efficient exoskeleton!
In related news... (Score:2)
... Spandex(tm) futures are skyrocketing....