Dispatches from a rapidly changing, rapidly improving world

Special Dispatch #9 Thanksgiving, 2008

This concludes our special Thanksgiving series. Thanks for joining us!

Item 9
Honda unveils robotic legs that could improve people's mobility

HONDA has unveiled a new walking assist machine designed to make it easier for the elderly to climb stairs and help factory workers.

The computerised leg device is the latest addition to walking technology developed by the Japanese automaker, which announced the world's first two-legged walking robot, ASIMO, in 2000.

The 6.5kg device - consisting of a saddle, leg-like frames and shoes - can reduce the load on users' legs while walking or climbing and descending stairs by supporting bodyweight, Honda said.

Honda said the motor-powered machine is still at an experimental stage, but elderly people and people undergoing rehabilitation who need support for their leg muscles and joints are the main target.

The Good News

Technology that promises to improve the mobility of the elderly and the disabled is a wonderful thing. Of course, the endgame here is to develop medical technologies which provide everyone with sound and healthy bodies throughout their long lives (and progress is definitely being made along those lines) and to develop full-blown robots to assist us in all aspects of our lives.

This is nice early step towards both f those ends. We'll take it.

Live to see it!