Motorized harness designed to enhance walking ability
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028268
MIT Technology Review : A device that looks like a climbing safety harness may one day help stroke victims to walk and soldiers to carry heavy loads over long distances. The harness, which is made of spandex and nylon, is connected to cables that run down the wearer’s legs. Small battery-powered motors pull the cables to help the heel come up or the leg go forward. To be as efficient as possible, the device has been designed to conform to the natural movements of a person’s muscles. And it is lightweight and flexible enough to be worn under one’s clothes. “Energy storage is still a challenge,” however, says Conor Walsh of Harvard University. He hopes that advances in battery technology will allow the device to become even lighter and more efficient.
