Robotic Skeleton to Help People with Disabilities

Japanese robotics firm, Cyberdene, has designed a robotic exoskeleton to  help rehabilitate people with disabilities.

The suit, known as HAL (Hybrid Assisted Limb), has been awarded a global safety certificate.  Passing this safety test clears the way for the suit to be considered for approval in Europe, including the UK.

Brain Signals

HAL works by interpreting signals sent from the user’s brain to their muscles through motoneurons.  Once these signals are picked up by sensors worn on the skin, HAL moves its joints with the help of the wearer’s muscle movement.

Hopes are high that, in time, this technology could have dramatic benefits for people with impaired mobility.  In time, people suffering from a range of mobility-effecting disorders could be assisted in doing things like walking, climbing stairs or even running.

Disability Aid

HAL’s makers say that the suit could be revolutionary for those with limited limb function and could drastically improve the wellbeing and capabilities of people with disabilities in the future.

Originally trialled in Japan in early 2012, HAL is now used successfully in 130 medical institutes across the country.  Cyberdene plans to export HAL to Europe and begin clinical trials which, if successful, could pave the way for HAL being approved for use in the UK.