How does exoskeleton work

By , the XOS emerged as the device that was closest to the military's vision, and the project moved to the development stage. Sarcos eventually was acquired by Raytheon, which continued the work [source: Mone ].

Meanwhile, other outfits, such as Berkeley Bionics, worked on reducing the amount of energy that artificial limbs require, so that a powered exoskeleton could function long enough in the field to be practical. One mids design, the Human Load Carrier, reportedly was capable of operating for 20 hours without recharging [source: Mone ]. Instead of relying on a human operator's muscle contractions to move the limbs, HAL incorporated sensors that picked up the electrical messages sent by the operator's brain.

Theoretically, an exoskeleton based on the HAL-5 concept would enable a user to do whatever he or she wanted without moving a muscle, simply by thinking about it [source: Cyberdyne ]. In the next section, we'll look at the current state of the art in powered exoskeletons, and where the technology may soon lead.

Network World reports that current systems, which weigh about 55 pounds 25 kilograms , can enable human operators to carry pounds 91 kilograms of weight with little or no effort and dramatically less fatigue.

Additionally, the latest exoskeletons are quieter than the typical office printer, and can run at speeds of 10 miles per hour 16 kilometers per hour and perform squats and crawls, in addition to lifting [source: Heary ]. Raytheon was so confident of its prospects that, in , it released a video featuring Clark Gregg, one of the actors from the "Iron Man" movie franchise, doing the narration as a second-generation exoskeleton karate-chopped wood, did pushups and lifted weights [source: Weinberger ].

Meanwhile, fellow defense contractor Lockheed Martin is working on a rival exoskeleton designed for heavy lifting, with the ability to transfer the weight from heavy loads to the ground through the robotic legs of the lower-body exoskeleton. The company says that the exoskeleton also is able to perform deep squats, crawls and upper-body lifting with minimal human exertion [source: Lockheed Martin]. Soldiers could use this technology to obtain information about the terrain they're crossing and how to navigate their way to specific locations.

DARPA is also developing computerized fabrics that could be used with the exoskeletons to monitor heart and breathing rates. If the U. Even so, it may be a few years at least before real-life Iron Man makes his way onto a battlefield. Meanwhile, powered exoskeletons may also provide a huge benefit in peacetime as well, since eventually the technology may enable people with spinal injuries or disabling neuromuscular diseases to lead fuller lives. In general: Exoskeletons are wearable devices that work in tandem with the user.

The opposite of an exoskeleton device would be an autonomous robot that works instead of the operator. The opposite would be a mechanical prosthetic, such as a robotic arm or leg that replaces the original body part. Exoskeletons can be made out of rigid materials such as metal or carbon fiber, or they can be made entirely out of soft and elastic parts.

Exoskeletons can be powered and equipped with sensors and actuators, or they can be entirely passive. Exoskeletons can cover the entire body, just the upper or lower extremities, or even a specific body segment such as the ankle or the hip.

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Economy Humanities Science Technology. Multimedia OpenMind books Authors. Featured author. These are essentially wearable robots that enhance the abilities of the person wearing them.

Currently, the use of exoskeletons has many applications for improving human performance in industries like the military, construction, and physical therapy. Among the first exoskeletons on the market was the HULC model, created by the world leader in exosuit technology, Ekso Bionics. This was a hydraulics powered suit made for military use that offered leg support and acted as a backpack of sorts so that human operators could carry heavy objects over greater distances and at higher speeds.

While the suit was promising in concept, it did restrict some movements and could result in additional stress on muscles. Today, there are many different, and much improved, exoskeleton models. Here are some of the best examples and how they work. The industrial exoskeleton sector is generally the most active today since wearables for the support of upper extremities are becoming so common in the construction industry as well as manufacturing.