Researchers at Harvard are created an "exosuit," which is a wearable robotic suit that can reduce the amount of energy spent carrying heavy loads by approximately seven percent.
The suit was constructed with soft materials and is attached to a person's legs, waist and back. The robot suit has a motor that has energy travel through the cables of the suit, which is then transferred back to the user. The suit relieves the strain on hip and ankle joints and reduces the risk of fatigue and injury.
The wearable robotic suit could be extremely useful for many different people and industries. It can one day be used to help people who are constantly carrying heavy loads such as soldiers, fire fighters, hikers and perhaps even backpackers.
Wearable Robotic Suits
This Robot Suit Can Help Workers Carry Large Loads
Trend Themes
1. Wearable Robotic Assistance - The development of wearable robotic suits presents an opportunity for a disruptive innovation in the field of physical assistance, reducing fatigue and risk of injury.
2. Energy-efficient Load Carrying - The use of exosuits to reduce energy consumption while carrying heavy loads opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in industries that involve manual labor and physically demanding tasks.
3. Personalized Mobility Enhancement - The advancements in soft, wearable robotic exosuits offer potential disruptive innovation for individuals requiring enhanced mobility due to age, disability, or physical limitations.
Industry Implications
1. Logistics - The logistics industry could benefit from the integration of wearable robotic suits to enhance the efficiency and safety of heavy load transportation, potentially revolutionizing the field.
2. Emergency Services - The use of wearable robotic suits holds the potential to improve the physical capabilities of firefighters, helping them navigate challenging environments while minimizing fatigue and injury risks.
3. Outdoor Recreation - The application of wearable robotic suits in the outdoor recreation industry could provide hikers and backpackers with enhanced endurance and reduced strain, offering a disruptive innovation in personal mobility enhancement.