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Robotic suit aims to aid mobility in the elderly
Elderly people suffering from mobility problems could soon be given extra help following the unveiling of a robotic suit.
The HAL (hybrid assistive limb), made by Japanese robotics company Cyberdyne, is equipped with sensors that read brain signals directing limb movement through the skin.
The device, which is belted to the waist, communicates signals to mechanical leg braces strapped to the thighs and knees, which then provide robotic assistance to people with weak limbs.
Available in three sizes, small, medium and large, and in a one-leg version, HAL could have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly.
A spokesman for the company said: ‘HAL is to help people with weak leg muscles and mobility problems. We wanted to show HAL is very useful for our daily life.’
Japan is currently looking for ways to cope with its rapidly ageing society, where about a fifth of the population of 128 million is 65 or older. Cyberdyne said the suit had also attracted interest in Europe and the US.
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