15 August,2016 11:45 AM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Using a budget of USD 750 (about Rs 50,000) a final-year engineering student from Kerala, Vimal Govin Manikandan, and a team of engineers designed an exoskeleton capable of lifting upwards of about 130 kg
Using a budget of USD 750 (about Rs 50,000) a final-year engineering student from Kerala, Vimal Govin Manikandan, and a team of engineers designed an exoskeleton capable of lifting upwards of about 130 kg.
The suit's powered by actuated cylinders connected to pressure switches to guage movement and actions.
According to the team, the inspiration for the suit came from popular Hollywood feature films like the 'Ironman' series and 'Avatar'.
Known by the names Powered Exoskeleton, Powered Armour, Exoframe, Hardsuit among others it is a a wearable mobile machine that is powered by a system of motors, pneumatics, levers, hydraulics, or a combination of technologies that allow for limb movement, increased strength, and endurance.
They are mostly in use in the medical and military fields in Western countries.
In the medical field, Exoskeletons can also be applied in the area of rehabilitation of stroke or spinal cord injury patients. Such exoskeletons are sometimes also called Step Rehabilitation Robots.
In military, there are an increasing amount of applications for an exoskeleton such as; decreased fatigue and increased productivity whilst unloading supplies or enabling a soldier to carry heavy objects (80-300 kg) while running or climbing stairs.
A suit known as Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) is currently being developed by the US military.
