HAL, short for Hybrid Assistive Limb, is a wearable Robot exoskeleton from the Japanese robot Manufacturer Cyberdyne, primarily benefiting: people having mobility problems, people who have to lift heavy loads and of course people having some Iron-Man inspiration.
The HAL works as follows: A person wearing the suit, when tries to move, electrical signal from his brain are transmitted to the muscles. These electrical signals are sensed by the sensors stuck with the skin.
Through these sensors HAL gets to know the movement’s direction and force, the mode is called ‘voluntary control system’. The other mode of operation is called ‘robotic autonomous control system’, operating on the basis of movement information stored in the device’s database.
According to the Manufacturer, HAL being a exoskeleton built, need not the wearer’s support and supports itself, thus, appearing lighter to the wearer. However, it has the weight of 23 Kg, a battery driven product remains operational for around two and a half hours continuously. Multitude of activities one can do wearing it include walking, standing, objects lifting, climbing up stairs and down stairs and a lot others.
Prices for the suit for rent are around $1450-$1500 and $2200 per month for one-legged and two-legged versions respectively. For purchase the price is $4200. For now, all are in Japan only. Words are that there are planning to make the product reach European markets, nothing could be said for the US for now though.
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