Friday 21 March 2014

The Future Here Today

Like most people, when I think of mechanical exoskeletons (which I admit isn't all that often), I picture 'Ripley' fighting the Alien Queen (aka 'C'mon Bitch'), in the film 'Aliens' ...

Ripley - Sexy and Fighting Fit - C'mon Bitch
Ripley - Sexy and Fighting Fit - C'mon Bitch

..... a thrilling mix of robot and android machine, but still human inside .... and I might add, something to fire up the imagination of the most jaded of Sci-Fi loving cinema goers.
 
But in fact they are not just for Sci-Fi movies only, and are already amongst us, with the latest such machine, called the "Body Extender", being publicised as 'the most complex wearable robot which has been ever built', and being able to lift 50kg (7st 12lb) in each extended hand, it can also exert 10 times the force the user applies to an object .... Ripley material if ever there was one. 

The Body Extender Exoskeleton
The Body Extender Exoskeleton

In fact there are a lot of these machines now out there, from the weight carriers, to soldiers exo-stamina frames used in combat.

Soldier Already Use Endurance Exoskeletons
Soldiers Already Use Endurance Exoskeletons

They are soon going to be common sights on our streets and factories as the cost drops, and are probably the first step towards the acceptance of robots (the technology for this is already only 10 - 15 yrs away from non gimmick robots like Asimo).

The world of Isaac Asimov may be just around the corner .... well for robots at least.
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous28 March 2014 at 22:48

    Your right, that was the best 'scene' of the 'aliens' movie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No PC30 March 2014 at 12:52

      Yep, can't disagree my friend. Thanks for the comment.

      Delete
    2. Vroomfondel1 April 2014 at 15:32

      Having seen A Matter of Loaf & Death, I have difficulty thinking of that great scene without also seeing Gromit scrambling through cable-runs and a pooch behind the controls of a fork-lift truck.

      Delete
    3. No PC1 April 2014 at 19:10

      Nothing survives the loving mickey taking by Wallace and Gromit .....

      Delete

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