The Emerging Exoskeleton Industry

These devices are constantly being overhyped.

I feel spinally injured people are often exploited in these developments and given false hope. I realise it is often done with good intentions, and it's a tricky path to tread.

Del

Even though I fundamentally agree with you, at times, its 'hope' that all that's left.

One has to put this in perspective. Development takes time and they only show the goal of where they want to be. A plan. A goal and how to achieve this goal.

I had gotten scorched on this before for bringing it up. But war can drive the development of this technology (as well as being the cause) for it to become if not feasible, at least doable.

But when one is sitting in a wheel chair or is bedridden. It can be, putting it mildly,....disheartening.

Totally agree with that.

I would love an exoskeleton to keep me going a bit longer. Work is getting harder every year......especially as there are no younger folks being trained to do the grunt work under direction. One has to be both grunt and brains.

I could see these being turned into a body worn multi tool....winch, hydraulic power pack, wearable welding machine.....things like that. I now hate climbing and squatting....hurts like cuss real quick.

Could be just the thing for Oz where they're talking about increasing retirement ages....when was the last time you saw a 75YO bricklayer? Oz guvmint thinks everybody is a cafe barista.

It's a good tool and getting better.

I know exactly how you feel mate!!!

Just wait till your hips and knees give out.....ankles are still good touch wood.

Then there's the site where the last 6 metres is a "vertical" ladder with a back leaning rake on it.......starts turning into a circus act real fast.

I've always wanted plastic surgery to get 2 more fully functional arms and hands ......but a suit would work fine.

Gecko skin gloves would be a dream too.

Reality check.

Compare the mock ups with v thin frameworks and tiny joints which wouldn't actually work other than in the movies with the reality in the video of Claire Lomas.

Just watch the video and feel your heart sink.

BTW. She finished 16 days after the marathon began needed two sticks and someone walking behind her.

Please don't get me wrong I have the utmost respect and admiration for her and the people striving to make this work. It's just that there are cases of the false hope leading to suicide. Compare and contrast with the paralympics where the dissability much more accepted and worked with.

(Just in case you are wondering from where I get my soap box... my adult Son is in a wheelchair)

Del

Hi Del,

Your skepticism is understandable and well advised, particularly considering your son's condition. As you know, all technologies are clunky, inefficient and oversized when they are first introduced into the marketplace (computers, cell phones, guns, etc.). There are a few points I don't think I made clear enough in my article:

• There has been sizable investment the last ten years in this technology which is why we are starting to see all these first generation exoskeletons.
• More importantly, most importantly really, a lot of the investment has been in industries outside of the medical industry, such as the military and industrial consortiums. Humans being humans, saving money and winning wars are strong motivators and are leading to a lot of innovation.
• Innovations in military and industrial exoskeletons will also improve medical exoskeletons.
• The power density of batteries will increase significantly the next two decades. This is basically due to market forces. They don't need to increase that much more for exoskeletons to become practical (thus the increased interest these last few years).

I understand your skepticism, and I know it is based on experience and wanting to protect your son and people like him from false hope. And I do agree that this emerging exoskeleton technology should be viewed realistically. It could be decades before we have smooth movement, lightweight exoskeletons for helping people like your son walk. Just as it took decades for us to get computers in our pockets.

But, barring an unforeseen collapse of society, it's on its way. As surely as self-driving cars, or drones piloted half a world away, or computers that fit in our pocket, or quantum computers, etc. It's already crossed that invisible line that technology has to cross for "the money" to start investing in it.

Best wishes to you and your son.

-R

Cheers

Del

Sensible exoskeleton for lifting heavy loads....

An exoskeleton allowing a load to feel ten times lighter would merely encourage someone to try to lift something which was 10 times heavier than could be sensibly supported balanced by the small footprint of a human. Thus the exoskeleton would need a strengthened a larger footprint especially on undulating terrain. You don't see that in the artists illustrations and mockups... what a surprise

If we are taking artists interpretations as gospel, then I propose these!

Anyhow I've checked up on my optical computer and it says it's not happening soon

Del

I get hives when I think about these exoskeletons

You know how it is...... The military comes up with an idea at the cost of $4 Billion and then when the tech finally becomes mainstream then the same thing that they spent $4 Billion on now costs $40,000.

I enjoy seeing tech being used for the good of humanity where it can give some of us who are disabled a chance to do what's in our heads and our bodies cannot perform.

It has a way to go before it becomes commonplace and performs like a non disabled person.

I always liked Sigourney weaver's exoskeleton in Aliens. Not only was it good for bearing up aliens monsters, it's useful in loading cargo.