機器人套裝給予長者超級力量

Robot suit developed to help the vulnerable
機器人套裝發展以幫助易受傷的人仕
西元2007年07月16日


機器人套裝給予長者超級力量
The robot suit that gives super strength to the elderly
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:31 PM on 9th April 2010
A new super suit from Japan promises to give a new lease of life to the elderly.
一來自日本的新超級套裝，承諾提供長者新的生命租期。
The Power Assist Suit was developed at Tokyo University to increase the strength of the wearer's arms and legs, while reducing backaches and cramps.
電力輔助套装是在東京大學發展，以增強佩戴者的手臂和腿部力量，同時減少背痛和痙攣。

The metal-and-plastic exoskeleton has eight electric motors, as well as sensors that can detect movements and respond to commands through a voice-recognition system.
那金屬和塑料外骨架有8個電動馬達，以及可以探測移動的傳感器，並回應命令通過一個語音識別系統。

Tokyo University student Kazuya Taira demonstrating the new power-assist suit for elderly agriculture workers
東京大學學生和哉平示範，新的電力輔助套装給年長的農業工作者

Professor Shigeki Toyama and his team spent 15 years developing the suit and plan to set up a company to start producing the futuristic outfit by the end of the year.
遠山茂樹教授和他的隊伍用了15年的時間開發這套裝，並計劃成立間公司，在今年年底開始生產這未來服裝。
'If the farmer bends over to grasp a radish, his back will be firmly supported,' said Gohei Yamamoto, one of the students working on the team.

'A brief vocal instruction will instantly straighten the rods along his legs, giving him the power he needs to pull the vegetable without effort.'
The team has developed a heavy-duty 66lbs model, for lifting big loads and pulling vegetables out of the ground, and a 50lbs version designed for lighter tasks such as picking grapes.

The super suit can reduce the user's physical effort by 62 per cent on average
超級套裝能減少用者的身體負担平均 約62%

The robo-suits can reduce the user's physical effort by an average 62 per cent, according to the inventors.

When bending knees the muscular activity is reduced by half, and the suit can also take most of the strain out of crouching.
It will prove especially useful in Japan, which has a rapidly aging population due to a low birthrate and a high life expectancy.
Robo-suits are already being used in Japanese hospitals and retirement homes, helping carers to lift patients or help rehabilitate patients.
The suit will initially be priced at around one million yen (£7,000), but the makers hope to mass-produce the device which would halve the cost.

There are no plans at present to sell the suits overseas.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1264774/Robot-suit-developed-gives-super-strength-elderly.html

日本科學家將栩栩如生的女機械人公諸於眾