Cyberdyne Human Exoskeleton - the HAL-5 Hybrid Assistive Limb Suit
The HAL-5 exoskeleton suit by Cyberdyne has sensors attached to a user’s skin, which it carefully monitors for the slightest changes in body biosignals. In this first iteration of human-mech combination, is this the starting point for human superpowers?
Have you ever wanted to have superpowers?
You know, to be able to do things a typical human being can’t? Well, Cyberdyne Inc. from Japan is hard at work on an exoskeleton prototype... a wearable robot... which will give you superhuman strength. This robot’s nickname is the Cyberdyne HAL-5, or Hybrid Assistive Limb, and it’s goal is to function as a full-body support system.
Exoskeletal Support
Whether an activity simple as walking, or carrying 100 pounds, the HAL-5 exoskeleton has been built so that it can handle a majority of the pressure that would otherwise stress our bones and muscles. The goal of Cyberdyne in building this exoskeleton was to relieve employees of strenuous physical labor, as well as assist the elderly or physically disabled in moving about with ease. The most interesting thing about HAL-5, however, is how you control it: By thought.
Plug Me In
HAL-5 exoskeleton suit by Cyberdyne has sensors attached to the user’s skin, which it carefully monitors for the slightest of changes in the body’s biosignals. Anytime you think of what you’re going to move, your brain sends a nerve biosignal to your muscles, telling them to carry out the action.
Thought Interception
This signal is intercepted by the exoskeleton suit, which then translates your thought to the robot’s system and carries out the movement you were about to make -- before you make it -- within milliseconds.
Friend with Robo Benefits
It takes training to get used to the robot making your moves before you do, but once subjects are used to the system, they are able to take full benefit of it’s extra physical support of the exoskeleton suit; after a few sessions, they find themselves completing physical tasks using a only a small fraction of the normal energy necessary.
Battery Limit
While HAL-5 is still in development Cyberdyne for optimizing battery usage (right now it clocks in and just under 3 hours per charge), Cyberdyne plans on renting and selling it’s robot suit publicly within the next few years.
