While exoskeletons are already used to rehabilitate people with spinal cord injuries, the technology has great potential for people who aren’t paralyzed. The elderly, for example, would love to get some of their youthful strength back when moving flower pots in the backyard or doing other things around the house. A team at Aalborg University in Denmark is building a robotic arm assist device that can literally empower anyone with some extra strength.
The device is part of a larger European project to build a full exoskeleton for weak people who would like to extend their daily abilities and work longer on demanding tasks.
The team has been focused on developing a control mechanism to make the orthotic arm easy and natural to use so it provides just enough power, but not too much. The team expects that within five years they may have a real product out on the market.
Source: Aalborg University