An exoskeleton is an external frame that allows a person to perform truly fantastic actions: lift weights, fly, run at great speed, make giant jumps, etc. And if you think that only the main characters of "Iron Man" or "Avatar" have such devices, then you are deeply mistaken. They have been available to mankind since the 60s. last century; what's more, you can learn how to assemble an exoskeleton with your own hands! However, first things first.
Exoskeleton: Introduction
Today you can easily buy yourself an exoskeleton - similar products are produced by Ekso Bionics and Hybrid Assistive Limb (Japan), Indego (USA), ReWalk (Israel). But only if you have an extra 75-120 thousand euros. In Russia, only medical exoskeletons are produced so far. They are designed and manufactured by Exoathlet.
The first exoskeleton was made by scientists from the corporations General Electric and United States Military back in the sixties of the last century. It was called Hardiman and could freely lift a load of 110 kg into the air. The person who put on this device in the process experienced a load, aswhen lifting 4.5 kg! Only now Hardiman himself weighed all 680 kg. That's why he was not in great demand.
All exoskeletons are divided into three types:
-
fully robotic;
- for hands;
- for legs.
Modern robot suits weigh from 5 to 30 kg and more. They are both active and passive (working only on the operator's command). According to their purpose, exoskeletons are divided into military, medical, industrial and space. Consider the most wonderful of them.
The most impressive exoskeletons of our time
To assemble such exoskeletons with your own hands at home in the near future, of course, will not work, but it is worth getting to know them:
- DM (Dream machine). It is a fully automatic hydraulic exoskeleton that is controlled by the voice of its operator. The device weighs 21 kg and is able to withstand a person weighing up to a centner. So far, it is used for the rehabilitation of patients who cannot walk due to diseases of the central nervous system or other neuromuscular diseases. Approximate cost - 7 million rubles.
- Ekso GT. The mission of this exoskeleton is the same as the previous one - it helps people with pathologies of the motor functions of the legs. The characteristics are similar to the previous one, the price is 7.5 million rubles.
- ReWalk. It is designed to give movement to people with paralysis of the lower extremities again. The device weighs 25 kg and is able to work without recharging for 3 hours. The exoskeleton is available in Europe and the US for the equivalent of 3.5 millionrubles.
- REX. Today, this device can be bought in Russia for 9 million rubles. The exoskeleton gives people with leg paralysis not only independent walking, but also the ability to stand/sit down, turn around, go moonwalking, go down stairs, etc. REX is joystick controlled and can function all day without recharging.
- HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb). There are two versions - for arms and for arms / legs / torso. This invention allows the operator to lift a weight 5 times heavier than the limit for a person. It is also used for the rehabilitation of paralyzed people. This exoskeleton weighs only 12 kg, and its charge is enough for 1.0-1.5 hours.
How to make an exoskeleton with your own hands: James Hacksmith Hobson
The first and so far the only person who has managed to construct an exoskeleton in non-laboratory conditions is Canadian engineer James Hobson. The inventor assembled a device that allows him to freely lift 78-kilogram cinder blocks into the air. His exoskeleton works on pneumatic cylinders, which are supplied with energy by the compressor, and the device is controlled using a remote control.
Canadian does not keep his invention a secret. You can find out how to assemble an exoskeleton with your own hands following his example on the engineer's website and on his YouTube channel. However, please note that the weight lifted by such an exoskeleton rests solely on the operator's spine.
DIY exoskeleton:sample diagram
There are no detailed instructions that allow you to easily assemble an exoskeleton at home. However, it is clear that it will need:
- frame, characterized by strength and mobility;
- hydraulic pistons;
- pressure chambers;
- vacuum pumps;
- power supply;
- durable tubes that can withstand high pressure;
- control computer;
- sensors;
- software that allows you to send and convert information from sensors for the desired operation of the valves.
How this composition will roughly work:
- One pump should increase the pressure in the system, the other should decrease it.
- The operation of the valves depends on the pressure in the pressure chambers, the increase / decrease of which will control the system.
- Position of sensors (against the movement of the limbs): six - arms, four - back, three - legs, two feet (more than 30 in total).
- Software should prevent pressure on sensors.
- Sensor signals must be divided into conditional (information from them is useful if the unconditional sensor does not "speak" about the pressure it is experiencing) and unconditional. The conditionality / unconditionality of these elements can be determined, for example, by an accelerometer.
- Exoskeleton hands - three-fingered, separated from the operator's wrist - to prevent injury and give extra strength.
- The power source is selected after assembly and trial testing of the exoskeleton.
Robot suits, so faronly in the field of rehabilitation, are already beginning to enter our lives. There are inventors who are able to build such a device outside the laboratory. It is quite possible that in the near future any student will be able to assemble the Stalker exoskeleton with his own hands. It is already possible to predict that such systems are the future.
