Panasonic‘s Active Link unit is releasing a robotic exoskeleton called POWERLOADER Light.
The system is targeted at research institutions working in robotics, rehabilitation, and related topics.
Some details from Plastic Pals:
The system is designed to operate on Linux2.6, and it totally open to customization by researchers (including the hardware exterior).
The initial price is 18,000,000 JPY ($223,000) a pop, but they’re enticing potential developers with a research grant program, which would effectively halve the price to 9,000,000 JPY ($111,500 USD).
Researchers have to publish their findings within one year, with the caveat that others must be able to reproduce the results in three years.
Other similar projects from Active Link…
Japanese press release…
(hat tip: Engadget)