Robotic Exoskelitons

[INRM]

I've heard of devices like these currently conceived which a person could wear and it could work in response to movements the wearer makes and such.

[fuelair]

Yes, these are being worked on - have been for a number of years.

[INRM]

I've heard of some which can be rapidly programmed with pre-programmed moves. Almost like the ability to instantaneously learn. Well the robot learns, the person is kind of the puppet being moved along.

What are your opinions on that?


INRM

[fuelair]

For a person whose muscles are damage/non-functional that would be excellent. I have heard (no siting though) that programable limbs are being studied - but have not heard/read that more than very basic movement may be available at this time. Suggest www.dogpile.com enter exoskeleton programmable human' press Fetch.

[Giggywig]

INRM: Forgive the brief derail, but you seem to be too concerned with emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence. Yes, most technologies have possible downsides, but they also have upsides.

With regard to exoskeletons, I'm all for them. They can help people with disabilities as fuelair pointed out, but they could also be very helpful for people who have to do manual labor. Remember the suit from Aliens that Ripley fights the alien with? Something like that, for industrial purposes, could be very helpful. And even the military implementations, an exoskeleton to make "super soldiers," I'm all for it. Why? Because it might help keep soldiers alive.

[uruk]

As always the Japanese are ahead of the curve.

http://www.c00lstuff.com/798/Japanese_Robotic_Exoskeleton/

They want to use it for nursing staff to aid in patient lifting.

You can google on from there.

[Beerina]

Real demonstrations. They're not just for lifting venerable Japanese nursing home patients anymore!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=EeWT-fuUyEY

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=0hkCcoenLW4

[Gagglegnash]

Hi

EeWT-fuUyEY

0hkCcoenLW4


Fixed 'em for you.

[TX50]

That's straight out of Heinlein's "Starship Troopers".

[Lonewulf]

In about a decade, we could very well have powered armor. The idea's exciting.

[Bikewer]

They just had some video up in the last few weeks of an "exoskeleton" being developed by DARPA for the military. Very impressive; it followed the operator's movements very fluidly and the operator was able to easily pick up heavy objects while being able to jump or walk easily.

The downside....Power generation. This suit was connected to a large power source by heavy cabling. It would of necessity be limited to a small area, or the operator would be required to carry a powerful generator on his back!

If sufficiently small/powerful sources of power can be worked into the design, then these things have a lot of potential applications, especially in the area of providing mobility for disabled individuals.
Of course, the military likely has other uses in mind.

[Lensman]

That's straight out of Heinlein's "Starship Troopers".

Dammit, you nicked my reply. :mad:

;) :D

[INRM]

Giggywig,

INRM: Forgive the brief derail, but you seem to be too concerned with emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence.

Well, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and I feel that it's a good idea to talk about such technologies, as they have potentially serious implications (good or bad) and at the very least keep everybody abreast of them.

Second of all, nobody else does seem to be concerned with such issues, so as a result I figure I should.

Yes, most technologies have possible downsides, but they also have upsides.

I'm not disputing that. I'm just wondering if the upsides weigh the downsides or vice versa.

They can help people with disabilities as fuelair pointed out, but they could also be very helpful for people who have to do manual labor.

I'm aware


INRM

[Giggywig]

Well, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and I feel that it's a good idea to talk about such technologies, as they have potentially serious implications (good or bad) and at the very least keep everybody abreast of them.

Second of all, nobody else does seem to be concerned with such issues, so as a result I figure I should.
I hardly think that you are the only one concerned, or talking about it. But beyond us mortals talking about it, the decisions will get made in 2 ways:
1) Do regulating bodies ban an emerging technology?
2) Do consumers buy the ones that are available?

[fuelair]

Giggywig,



Well, technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and I feel that it's a good idea to talk about such technologies, as they have potentially serious implications (good or bad) and at the very least keep everybody abreast of them.

Second of all, nobody else does seem to be concerned with such issues, so as a result I figure I should.



I'm not disputing that. I'm just wondering if the upsides weigh the downsides or vice versa.



I'm aware


INRMWhat GW said, but also: it would look better if you started from actual knowledge before just bringing up a potential technology. I strongly suggest that if you think of something (like exoskeleton) that before you start a thread to discuss it you dogpile or google the word with one or two add-ons (why I suggested what I did for the dogpile search) and see if and what is being done with it to guide you on where the thread might go. It is hard to accept you are really interested if you are not coming in with real info on your own.

[INRM]

GigglyWig,

I hardly think that you are the only one concerned, or talking about it.

Well, it doesn't seem like anybody is talking about it. It at least feels that way.


INRM

[Giggywig]

GigglyWig,



Well, it doesn't seem like anybody is talking about it. It at least feels that way.


INRM

http://journals.pepublishing.com/content/26t6g76853744196/

[INRM]

Gigglywig,

At least some people are discussing it. I still think more people need to be talking about these emerging technologies