An exoskeleton developed for running and walking at Chung-Ang University, South Korea. Chung-Ang University
Marvel’s hit character Iron Man was first imagined in 1961. But the famous film franchise starring Robert Downey Jr as ace inventor Tony Stark is so contemporary and fresh in our minds that the character’s combinations still seem like science fiction.
However, it turns out that this is not the case. In fact, the world of “exoskeletons” of the type worn by Iron Man is already here.
Walk around factory loading docks, freight operations halls, and other areas where heavy objects need to be moved, and you may be shocked to see people wearing coveralls that are not not far removed from those worn by the likes of Iron Man.
A technology already implemented in the world of work
These suits aren’t exactly designed to move through the air launching explosive projectiles at bad guys. However, what they can do – or rather what the humans who control them from within can do – is quite superhuman.
Workers wearing these suits are able to lift much heavier objects and work longer, at levels only machines are capable of.
Powered by batteries, hydraulics, wires, rubber bands, springs, or whatever material seems best suited to the task at hand, work becomes play. Suddenly, we, as species, we are on equal footing with robots.
Reduce back muscle fatigue by 86%
For most companies, keen to stand out from their competitors, this means a considerable gain in efficiency thanks to these exoskeletons.
According to one study, even a minimalist “exosuit” reduced back muscle fatigue by 86%. This results in reduced workplace injuries, increased productivity and reduced insurance costs.
Some exoskeletons can even assist a specific limb. A glove called “Iron Hand” can increase hand strength by 20% when gripping or lifting heavy objects, thanks to sensors and motors built into each finger.
A full hip swing
The problem is that there isn’t much on the market when it comes to exoskeletons for everyday wear. Nothing to wear to carry groceries. Nothing for hiking. Nothing that can simply be hung on the coat rack once you get home.
Until now, anyway.
Professor Giuk Lee, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at South Korea’s Chung-Ang University, is probably one of the busiest people in the world of exoskeletons.
“Walking is by nature a three-dimensional activity”
He simultaneously published two studies showcasing two slightly different types of exoskeleton suits that promise to revolutionize mobility as we know it, particularly for people whose muscles are deteriorating or weakening, or who are amputees.
One of these suits, made up of elements that have nothing to do with Iron Man, such as a light fabric vest, a belt and thigh boots, connected by wires and powered by a battery and a small motor , weighs an impressive 3.5 kg.
But the main attribute that could make it a pioneering prototype is how the suit is constructed for ease of movement.
“Our paper was inspired by the observation that most wearable walking assistance robots have focused only on movements in the sagittal plane,” Lee explains in TechXplore. (The sagittal plane is longitudinal, from head to toe, dividing the body into two equal halves, left and right).
“However, walking is inherently a three-dimensional activity, and movements in other planes are just as crucial,” he adds.
The exoskeleton reduced the metabolic cost of walking by 11.6%
That’s why Lee and his team decided to focus on the frontal plane, which separates the front (anterior) half of the body from the back (posterior) half and provides lateral stability during walking.
Their theory is that using a natural hip abduction movement – that is, moving the leg back and forth and away from the midline of the body – reduces the effort undertaken by the body.
“As we move forward, our body’s center of mass naturally shifts from side to side to maintain balance – a process known as recovery. During this recovery phase, the muscles of hip abduction are stressed. Our device assists these muscles, making it easier for the wearer to recover their center of mass with less effort,” explains Mr. Lee.
After testing the effectiveness of the combination, the results are convincing: The exoskeleton reduced the metabolic cost of walking by 11.6% compared to normal walking, without assistance, and there is no doubt that it will improve further.
Of miracle workers
Other studies have taken similar steps. Stanford University documented a case where students were able to walk at a 40% faster pace, on average, while spending 2% more. less of energy.
For those who suffer from mobility issues due to muscle atrophy, surgeries, above-the-knee amputations, Parkinson’s disease and other medical conditions, or who are simply getting older, these suits might be suitable. prove to be miracle workers.
Run at lightning speed
But Lee and his team are obsessed with another, more difficult problem to solve: could we use an exoskeleton for sprinting?
They developed a similar but slightly more durable suit, reviewed in Science Robotics, with a few additional electric motors attached to steel cables attached to the rider’s thighs. When the motors work, they allow the cables to expand and contract, like muscles do when running.
However, the researchers faced a bigger challenge: Running and walking require different gaits, and exoskeletons have until now had difficulty telling the difference between the two.
An algorithm capable of detecting the type of movement used in the middle of the stride
To solve this problem, the research team developed an algorithm capable of detecting the type of movement used mid-stride in order to transmit it to the device, which then adapts accordingly.
The device was able to identify the correct gait in more than 99.98% of cases.
Finally, the research team outfitted nine male runners — amateurs, not professionals — and asked them to do a 200-meter sprint each, with and without the suit. Again, the results are unequivocal: On average, runners are 0.97 seconds faster with the suit than without, as reported by the MIT Technological Review.
Here’s a look at their work on YouTube.
Run 15% more efficiently than normal
Similarly, another study conducted at Stanford showed that students could run about 15 percent more efficiently than normal on a treadmill using a motorized frame attached to their shins and ankles.
Of course, no one will allow exoskeleton-equipped sprinters to compete in the Olympics.
These experiments demonstrate that many people, like Professor Lee, are obsessed with increasing mobility by striving to push the boundaries of exosuits until they are commercialized.
We are now very close to an era where we could soon see exosuits hanging in sports stores or on our coat racks, while opening up new possibilities in the areas of work, or play.
These pioneering experiences will help us achieve this.
Source: “ZDNet.com”