Honda Robot To Help Sick Walk April 23, 2008

Read more Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Robots , Technology

Honda Motor has developed a walking assist device that could help the elderly and those with mobility problems to get around a lot easier.

Based on technology gleaned from its Asimo humanoid robot, the walking assist device weighs just 2.8Kg, is designed to be worn simply with a belt around the hip and thigh and can cope with different body shapes. The belt applies cooperative control based on information obtained from hip angle sensors. The motors provide assistance to the user by lengthening their stride to more than they could normally achieve.

It is powered by lithium-ion batteries and is good for 2 hours of use on a full charge. It will be showcased this week at the BARRIER FREE 2008 show in Japan.

According to Honda, the product is beyond the prototype stage and at what it calls the ‘feasibility stage’, so let's hope it's not going to take another 5 years to get to those that need it.

Sure as hell beats those clunky walkers.-Martin Lynch

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