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Exoskeletons to Begin
Iron Man Age
ActiveLink, a Japanese tech company
and subsidiary of Panasonic, released
its first commercially available assist
suit AWN-03, an exoskeleton that
detects and assists body movements.
It has been showcased in Tokyo’s
International Robot Exhibition, the
world’s largest robotics show, a few
weeks ago where it garnered a huge
interest from the audience.
This is to address the aging
population of Japan and supporting
its shrinking workforce focusing on
health care, physical assistance and
maintaining the country’s level of
production. Using the exoskeleton,
which weighs a few pounds (6kg), the
user would be able to lift up crates or
things effortlessly, six to seven times
in a row. The device is composed of
two disks on the front part of thighs
and distributed over the shoulders.
It is powered by lithium-ion battery
with an electric engine according to
ActiveLink Engineer, Yasunori Nishi.
The exoskeleton costs $10,000 each.
Also, Japan is not the only one
developing the exoskeletons. In
Europe and the United States, a
number of projects were soon
be unveiled under the sectors of
defense and rehabilitation industries.
Exoskeletons ranging from modular
arms, limbs and chairs are now being
developed for commercialization.
In this technological age of robotics,
from parts to overalls, these “Iron
Man suits” are now a reality.
Photos by Panasonic
JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics
55