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Harvard’s Wearable Robot Gets $2.9M in Funding from DARPA
Harvard University and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Design announced today that they received $2.9M in a funding shot from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
There is still a lot to work on the soft, wearable exoskeleton, but with such important backers, the success is almost guaranteed. New Balance, a Boston-based startup specialized in 3D printed shoes, announced that it will collaborate with Harvard’s Wyss Institute on the wearable robot.
The term “wearable robot” was coined by Conor Walsh, head of the Harvard Biodesign Lab, and lead researcher designing the suit. Walsh described the exoskeleton as such as it can be easily worn under other clothes, and resembles a web that covers the limbs.
ReWalk or Ekso Bionics are two commercially-available exoskeletons, and one could easily think that the Soft Exosuit developed by Harvard competes directly against those. However, this one is entirely flexible, and this feature sets it apart.
Since the wearable robot includes some specially designed footwear (pictured above), one of the first benefits that derives from wearing the Soft Exosuit is the ability to walk longer distances. An increase in strength can also be noticed when being equipped with the exoskeleton. The suit is said to follow the natural movement of the body, and only presents the aforementioned advantages when needed. As Welsh explained, “When the suit is active, the underlying muscles at the ankle and at the hip are doing less work.”
The elastic and non-stretchable materials, along with the cabling that covers the limbs, mimic the way our muscles and tendons work. The device is powered by motors that are attached to the hips of the wearer.
I would very much like to see a football (or soccer, for my American audience) game played with these, but considering DARPA’s interest, it’s almost a certainty that Harvard’s wearable exoskeleton won’t be used for sports. Instead, it will enable soldiers to cover greater distances while consuming less energy.
Welsh stated that a commercially-available version should be available in the next two to five years. This version could help hikers walk more, but it could also prove useful for people with impairments. The project is overall very interesting, and along with the Arizona State University-developed DARPA-commissioned jetpack for faster running, is proof that the military is interested in making soldiers move faster.
Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Daewoo Shipbuilding workers that are equipped with exoskeletons, and the Powered Jacket MK3 exoskeleton that helps school girls fight bullies.
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Scientists develop robotic tentacle that can pick flowers, make us thumb our collars
Okay, it's a little too late for Johnny 5's grass hopper, but thanks to new "gentle" robotic tentacles developed at Harvard University, future generations of insects could escape a similar demise. Researchers have created a new soft appendage made from flexible plastic, that uses three compartmentalized air channels to achieve a snake-like range of movement. The touch of the tentacle is so light, that it is able to pick flowers without damage. While suggested applications include working with fragile objects, or in hard to reach locations, the team also experimented by adding cameras, suction cups and -- most terrifyingly -- syringes to the tip. The only limitation, apparently, is that the air channels prevent it from being scaled down. So while our insect friends are safe from strangle-bot, we might not be so lucky.
Scientists develop robotic tentacle that can pick flowers, make us thumb our collars originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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