About:
- Exoskeletons can also be referred to as: robotic suit, powered Armor, exo-frame or exosuit, wearable machine, power jacket, etc.
- These are wearable devices that work in tandem with the user.
- Exoskeletons are placed on the user’s body and act as amplifiers that augment, reinforce or restore human performance.
- Exoskeletons can cover the entire body, just the upper or lower extremities, or even a specific body segment such as the ankle or the hip.
- These Exoskeletons can be made out of rigid materials such as metal or carbon fiber, or they can be made entirely out of soft and elastic parts.
- These can be powered and equipped with sensors and actuators, or they can be entirely passive.
- In summary, exoskeleton is the application of robotics and biomechatronics towards the augmentation of humans in the performance of a variety of tasks.
Recent developments in U.S.:
- The technology is being developed by Lockheed Martin Corp with a license from Canada-based B-TEMIA, which first developed the exoskeletons to help people with mobility difficulties.
- Lockheed Martin recently won a $6.9 million award from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Centre to research and develop the exoskeleton, called ‘ONYX’, under a two-year, sole-source agreement.
- Reason for the U.S. military to invest in this technology is because soldiers deployed into war zones carry heavy but critical gear like body armour, night-vision goggles and advanced radios. Altogether, that can weigh anywhere from 40-64 kg, when the recommended limit is just 23 kg.
