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Energizing the Era of the Exoskeleton

Posted January 19, 2015 12:00 AM by Engineering360 eNewsletter

The dream of using powered mechanics to increase the strength of human operators is finally marching forward. Exoskeletons have been trapped inside science fiction for decades, despite a few real-world prototypes emerging from time to time since the early 1960s. This article posits that the time hasn't been right for exoskeletons - until now, with the convergence of two main triggers: needed technologies have advanced, and the social environment favors it. The specific triggers? Lightweight, portable batteries for storage power, and an aging workforce that can use the extra assist in repetitive, heavy-load tasks. Here's a look at some projects moving forward, fast.

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Mechanical Components, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Mechanical Components today.

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micahd02 Guru Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: No. VA, USA (No, it does NOTu mean "won't go"!) Posts: 1791 Good Answers: 75	#1 Re: Energizing the Era of the Exoskeleton 01/20/2015 12:50 PM
	Very interesting, if lengthy article. It deals with the efforts of many companies and teams, but more importantly, with the variety of approaches they are using, both in WHAT an exoskeleton should do, what theirs would/will do, and how it should be (or could be) done. And the best thing about it, is that none of THIS article is pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking by an author who trots out, and misuses, technical terms in order to impress the laymen. In fact, it is refreshingly short of unnecessary statistics. Well written, interesting, and informative look at what is being done, and what is being attempted, in a vital field of power-assistance for humans. __________________ Been away a while. Miss all my old friends. Some of you I KNOW are still around. Where are the rest?
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