Scientists at Harvard University recently developed a robotic short designed to help runners race lighter. The school’s Wynn Institute researchers designed a hip exosuit that looks like robotic shorts. They made the soft exosuit to make walking and running easier. It has a cable actuation system that ensures it does this.
According to Wynn Institute’s Benjamin Boettner, “The actuation cables apply a tensile force between the waist belt and thigh wraps to generate an external extension torque at the hip joint that works in concert with the gluteal muscles.” The suit pretty much helps move the muscles in the hip and thigh areas so that it is easier to run and walk.
The robot shots apparently reduce how much oxygen the body uses for breathing while running by 4%. Meanwhile, for walking, it reduces oxygen use by 9%. The reduction in metabolism makes the wearer feel 5.7kg (12.6 pounds) lighter while running. However, while walking the wearer would feel 7.39kg (16.3 pounds) lighter.
Hip Exosuit Robotic Shorts
The leader of the study, Dr Conor Walsh said:
“While the metabolic reductions we found are modest, our study demonstrates that it is possible to have a portable wearable robot assist more than just a single activity, helping to pave the way for these systems to become ubiquitous in our lives.”
“We are excited to continue to apply it to a range of applications, including assisting those with gait impairments, industry workers at risk of injury performing physically strenuous tasks, or recreational weekend warriors.”
This suit will help people cover long distance by foot and eventually probably help people with walking disabilities. Although, the exosuit seems bulky there is likely going to be some improvements to the technology soon. It limits the wearer’s ability to carry a full-sized backpack because of the bulge it gives the user’s lower back.
The current system is designed to fit men’s walking style and body shapes. However, they say that newer versions that will suit women are being developed.