Robot suit will help old people move around

A JAPANESE firm has invented a robotic suit to help old people get around a little bit easier.

According to nikkei.net, boffins at Tsukuba Uni created the HAL (hybrid assistive limb) suit which has sensors which respond to signals from the brain. It will let elderly folk walk and lift weights up to 20 kilogrammes, the report said.

The suit is already under trial and the firm will produce 400 suits a year, renting them out to institutions and individuals. A suit costs ¥500,000, but rental charges per month will vary. Daiwa has invested money in the project along with Cyberdyne, a Tsukuba spinoff. µ

L'INQ
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