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| A Honda Motor Co. engineer demonstrates the walking aid in Tokyo on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI |
The 2.7-kg device, which is worn on the waist and thighs, helps to lift the user’s knees when walking.
It uses technologies employed by the automaker’s Asimo bipedal humanoid robot and is designed to help people recover their ability to walk after suffering incapacity such as paralysis following a stroke.
In time, wearers will acquire strength in their leg muscles and may find it easier to walk without the device’s assistance, Honda said.
Health care professionals such as physical therapists need to be with the wearer when the device is used as it has to be configured to the way the wearer walks.
The device has already been used at some medical institutions since 2013 on an experimental basis.
Honda aims to lease 450 units annually. The device, which can be used for about an hour on a single charge, will be leased for ¥45,000 per month.
Japan is fast embracing the use of robotics in daily life. The government’s revamped Japan Revitalization Strategy lists support for robotics research and development as one of the main areas of focus.
Earlier this month, Tokyo’s Haneda airport said it will test new robot technologies under a joint project with leading robotics developer Cyberdyne Inc. In the initial phase of the project, Cyberdyne will provide its HAL exoskeletal robot suits to help airport workers complete loading tasks.
Meanwhile, Mizuho Bank has introduced Pepper, SoftBank Corp.’s talking humanoid robot, in its flagship branch in central Tokyo as a receptionist.
Source;
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/07/22/business/tech/honda-start-leasing-walking-assistance-device/#.VbDw4rWd67R
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