Paralyzed Man Hits the Streets of NYC In a New Exoskeleton 38
the_newsbeagle writes: Robert Woo was paralyzed in 2007 when a construction crane dropped a load of steel on him. Yesterday, he put on the newest "exoskeleton," essentially a pair of smart robotic legs, and strolled out into a busy Manhattan sidewalk. He was demoing the ReWalk 6.0, a $77,000 device that he plans to buy for home use.
$1000 DIY version in 10, 9, ... (Score:5, Insightful)
The motors, sensors, software and batteries of this product are no doubt top end. They also must bear the weight of a regulatory approval process that makes people safe. That means a fall chance of zero because falls can cause significant damage. If you see a thousand dollar version understand the difference - commercial motors, slower response time, less redundancy, less battery life and occasional failures.
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Also, the DIY version comes with only two anti-air missiles.
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Anti-aircraft missiles can be readily fooled by the target, and will often miss. In contrast, anti-air missiles will hit their target 100% of the time.
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That means a fall chance of zero
At the moment it has to be manually switched between walking mode and sitting mode. The shifting of weight triggers it to take the selected action, and as demonstrated in this BBC video, if you leave it in walking mode and try to sit, you will end up hitting the streets in a much more literal fashion.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/tech... [bbc.co.uk]
1m46s
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No one is going to spend $70,000 on an exoskeleton and let it end up in a closet. For that kind of money, you'll find a way to put it on, or not buy it in the first place.
It's no use prevaricating about the bush (Score:4, Funny)
They're techno trousers, ex-NASA, fantastic for walkies!
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Forced video game reference (Score:1)
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Not quite impressed with new product. (Score:1)
Call me back when he doesn't have to use two crutches with the legs.
Re:Not quite impressed with new product. (Score:4, Informative)
Call me back if you get paralysed from the waist down, and then tell me you're not impressed.
What is it with some people? Does "not being impressed" make you feel better than everyone else because your standards are so much higher?
I bet the fax machine is nothing but a waffle iron with a phone attached to you...
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I clicked the link and looked at pictures but I promise - I did not read one single word of the article. I am no heretic. I hope it makes some serious noises going down the street. Anyhow, I want a pair of these and I am not even paralyzed. I would go stomping down the street making robot noises. I don't even do drugs (anymore) and I would still do it. Though I suppose I would prefer a pair that did not also require crutches.
Those are the same style of crutches that I got after I had my knee surgery. They t
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"Hey, they've got chairs with wheels. And here I am, using my legs like sucker." - Homer J. Simpson
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How about these [rewalk.com]?
Size of computer (Score:1)
Given the processing power of (say) a modern phone, why is the computer such an enormous device? Okay, it's gone down from a backpack to a fanny pack, but surely it should be able to have a pocket sized processing device to do the job.
Surely there should be "an app for that"
Re:Size of computer (Score:5, Insightful)
Perhaps that is actually a battery pack? I'd imagine something like this would need a lot of power if you want to go very far with it (and not risk collapsing in the middle of the street somewhere)
I'm only guessing but... (Score:3)
... if you're paralysed and stuck in a wheelchair I'd imagine that even a walk just down to the bottom of the street and back would feel like a life changing experience.
Its good to see some genuinely useful robotics applications coming out instead of trivial gimmicks such as japanese robotic hotel receptionists.
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"Avoid ableism here"
How about you avoid stupid "ism" terms that you've just made up.
"He can go faster in a wheelchair, despite the stigma, than he can in the robotic legs."
Even up and down stairs or getting on a bus/train/etc?
Not the best wording... (Score:2)
Paralyzed Man Hits the Streets of NYC In a New Exoskeleton
I see what you didn't realise you did there.
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Face down. I enjoyed that interpretation too :)
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Not that I'm suggesting it couldn't possibly ever happen, but how often do people in motorized wheelchairs in NYC have their wheelchairs stolen from them while they are out and about and using them? The logistics of stealing something like this exoskeleton are certainly no less involved.
Or are you suggesting that somebody is likely to break into his home and steal it while he's *NOT* using it?
Is it real? (Score:1)