exoskeleton

Robotic legs get wheelchair users walking

A new pair of robotic legs out of New Zealand lets wheelchair users do the improbable--stand, walk, and even go up and down stairs.

Users transfer themselves from their chair into the Robotic Exoskeleton (Rex) by holding on to Rex's legs. They then strap themselves in and use a hand-controlled joystick and control pad to maneuver the battery-powered mobility-assist device on solid, stable surfaces such as those inside the home or workplace. (Rex is not designed for use on slippery or soft surfaces, or in areas containing debris or small objects such as ice, snow, sand, grass, mud, or … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1271: Happy Bumper Day (podcast)

We'll do you a favor and give you the news in a nutshell: free bumpers (even non-Apple bumpers) and full refunds within 30 days of purchasing your phone if you're still not happy. There you go. Also, Droid X is sold out, the Facebook movie is going to be cool after all, if the new trailer is to be believed, and it turns out Palm was in fact the belle of the ball for a while there, but RIM and Nokia both blew it. Plus: Drunk HULC!

What we Craved this week: Pulsing brains, in 3D!

This week we were all over the place on Crave. We had some DIY hacks to create your own Street View experience (again, we're not sure why you'd want to, but hey, go for it). We talked about a hybrid cellular/satellite phone that's on its way to AT&T.

We also got a first look at Windows 7's new compatibility badge. Yes, it features the Windows Flag. Verizon officialized the HTC Imagio, its first device running Windows Mobile 6.5. Having played with WinMo 6.5 all day Friday I can say: it's … Read more

BOL 1059: Nano Goes retro with FM radio

Apple announcements were a little mundane. The One More Thing was an iPod Nano with a camera. We were more impressed with the fact that they added an FM radio. But really that's the No. 2 story. The Palm Pixi caught our eye for top billing. Should it catch yours?

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1059

New WebOS phone comes to Sprint: The Pixi (formerly Eos) http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/the-palm-pixi-is-official-headed-to-sprint-this-holiday-season/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10347387-94.html

Apple announces something or other http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10323196-37.html … Read more

The exoskeleton in MIT's closet

The 21st-century beast of burden could be you--if the exoskeleton fits.

It would work something like this, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Rather than simply strap on a backpack, you'd step into a pair of boots that are connected to the backpack by metal tubes and joints and springs and "a damping device," strap the tubes to your legs and flip on a small external power source.

It sounds like a lot of work, at least to get started, but the MIT exoskeleton can handle 80 percent of an 80-pound load. I'm … Read more

Robotic skeleton to fight paralysis

Lest there be any doubt, the science of robotics isn't being used only to produce novelty toys or to populate Japan's service industry. This robotic skeleton, by contrast, has been developed by Japanese researchers with a decidedly humanitarian goal: to help the partially paralyzed regain movement.

Using the synthetic blue muscles of the exoskeleton pictured here, patients can theoretically help their limbs relearn their intended motions. A paralyzed left arm, for example, can mimic the movement of a healthy right one to help patients remember "the feeling of moving the arm themselves," according to Ubergizmo. The … Read more