Exosuits have been in development for a long time and could mean making those with injuries or without limbs feel so much more comfortable. A Japanese company (who else?) called Cyberdyne (where have we heard of that name before? Could this mean the preliminary commencement of a Judgment day ending?) is working on an exoskeleton robot-like suit that will help invalids to retrieve most of their motor skills. The system is being called Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL (not the same as the computer from 2011: A Space Odyssey). Using an assortment of sensors the suit does exactly what you’d expect it to do, it enhances the wearers ability and strength by monitoring electric signals sent from the brain to the muscles providing power and stability to a level. Other practical applications would be to help those in rescue forces, construction workers et al. The company intends to mass produce these suits that will come with built-in battery packs and provide them to welfare facilities. One Japanese adventurer with disabilities is even planning on hopping out of his wheelchair to walk up a mediaeval French World Heritage site next year with HALs assistance.

An earlier version of HAL is already being used by about 50 hospitals and homes for the elderly in Japan. Rental fees for both legs are 140,000 and 150,000 Yen a month ($1,600-$1,800). That’s not cheap. Full body versions of HAL for arms and legs should be ready by 2015. The exosuit should allow wearers to carry a load of up to 70 kilogrammes (154 pounds) with each arm. There’s tremendous potential for a system like this and it’s quite possible that as time goes by, cheaper models just might become available. Next thing we could be seeing Iron Man styled suits making it out.

[Montreal Gazette]