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Robotic Suit For Farmers In Japan
A robot suit for farmers has been demonstrated by Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. I guess you can retire your robomule now.
In the farming robotic exoskeleton picture shown below, a person wearing the suit picks radishes using a wearable assistance machine equipped with eight motors and 16 sensors.
(Japanese farmer with robot suit)
The robotic exoskeleton weighs about 55 pounds and is designed to help elderly farmers who need a bit more support for their legs and joints.
The suit shown is a prototype; it is expected that the suit will be commercially available in 2-3 years for a cost of about $5,000.
The earliest reference to the exoskeleton idea is this non-powered rigid metallic clothing from Edmund Hamilton's classic 1932 story A Conquest of Two Worlds.
Earth's scientists solved the problem to some extent by devising rigid metallic clothing not unlike armor which would support the interior human structure against Jupiter's pull.
(Read more about rigid metallic clothing)
Science fiction fans have been thinking about exoskeletons for a long time, from the Hamilton example shown above to Heinlein's powered suit to more stylish versions like William Gibson's polycarbon exo.
Don't miss recent exoskeleton news:
- HAL Robotic Suit
The HAL robot suit will have a variety of uses in nursing care facilities and factory settings. - HAL vs. XOS: Who Will Have First Iron Man Suit?
Well, exoskeleton fans, we've got some real contenders warming up - shown in video action. - Human Universal Load Carrier Exoskeleton
A HULC user can walk normally while carrying up to 200 pounds of additional weight.
From AFP.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 1/9/2009)
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Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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