A South Korean research team has presented the first wearable robot known to enable mobility-impaired patients to walk again. The exoskeleton was designed by researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and can move towards a user, attach itself to the person, and assist them in walking. This is a new development for those paralyzed; they can now move and get around more on their own.
Korean Exoskeleton Restores Mobility for Paralyzed Users
In terms of autonomy, the robot is built to do challenging tasks such as navigation around obstacles and ascending stairs. Unlike previous robots imitating people’s movements, the device offers steady support, which makes it useful in everyday life. This gives the equipment a lightweight feel, which also translates to being comfortable to the user, especially after a long session.
The focus of KAIST's Exoskeleton Laboratory has been to continue the lab’s mission to apply robotics into everyone’s daily lives for those with mobility issues. User assistants, in their broad sense, are not just focused on providing bodily help but improving the quality of life of the users they assist. It can be claimed that this development is a step forward in the effort to close the chasm between computers and individuality.
Based on the experience of KAIST in the development of robotics, the project is based on the use of modern sensors and artificial intelligence technology for increased accuracy and flexibility. Where robotics is concerned, the performance of an exoskeleton depending on the environment and what the user requires portrays the future of robotic healthcare.
Subsequently, if tested and optimized, the KAIST team envisages developing the device for mass production to be sold globally. This innovation may hold significant promise to change the way rehabilitation and mobility support are administered and offers promise to millions of paralyzed individuals.
Korean Scientist Demonstrates Advanced Exoskeleton for Paraplegics
Para-researcher and a stakeholder of KAIST Exoskeleton Laboratory, Kim Seung-hwan, introduces the WalkON Suit F1. Such a robotic exoskeleton enabled Kim to walk at 3.2 kph (2 mph), ascend stairs, and take sideward steps to sit down on the bench. This demonstrated how the suit’s design brought mobility back for users who had been paralyzed.
Arguably the most impressive aspect of the suit is that it can detect a user and then move toward them even if they are a wheelchair user. Kim was impressed with the fact that the exoskeleton was an appropriate one to be used to assist him in standing and walking because it can be used as a real-life aid. Another aspect of KAIST’s design priorities is that the inserts themselves are designed to blend in with everyday life.
The WalkON Suit F1 is made from light but strong material, aluminum and titanium, and it weighs 50 kg, or 110 pounds. It is run by 12 electric motors, offering the flexibility of a muscular joint. The lenses of an advanced engine provide high stability and low energy dissipation in producing walking and other movements.
This exoskeleton’s creation is a major milestone for KAIST—a robotics, AI, and materials science success. So, giving users the ability to move around using stairs and other complicated terrains increases the opportunities of mobility-impaired persons.
The KAIST team’s goal is the further development of enhancement of the WalkON Suit F1 for the broad population and markets. If effective, this innovation could dramatically change the lives of millions of people who could get a chance at a better quality of life with as much mobility as everyone else.
Inspired by Iron Man: Korean Exoskeleton Revolutionizes Mobility
Park Jeong-su, a researcher at KAIST, said that the movie Iron Man encouraged him to develop an actual robot for the community. That vision came into reality in the WalkON Suit F1, a powered exoskeleton for paraplegics to be able to walk again. With the technology-packed suit that is focused on the human body, Park stresses that Ant طرف (integer) examines the world of science fiction films and TV shows with the aim of starting developments in this field.
For stability, it’s equipped with sensors in the soles and in the upper part of the exoskeleton, which analyze 1000 signals per second. These sensors need to capture the user’s intended movement and help to balance and facilitate normal walking. This brings precision in safety and usability of the developed technology, particularly for users with complete paraplegia.
It also has what are referred to as eyes, around which are mounted tiny cameras that help the robot scan the surroundings. These lenses assist at recognizing hindrances, perceiving stair step differences, and managing complicated terrains. This offsets the problem of reduced or inefficient sensory impression in users, thus enabling them to work and move effortlessly across various terrains.
The KAIST team that Lim Ji-yeon and Kim Seung-hwan are members of was able to showcase the full potential of the suit when Kim Seung-hwan—a paraplegic—won gold in the 2024 Cybathlon. As an entry in the exoskeleton subclass, Kim explained how the WalkON Suit F1 can assist disabled persons in their daily lives.
Reflecting on his journey, Kim shared his motivation: Which is why I wished to explain to my son that once upon a time I could walk and do things in this life differently from how he saw me. His video shows how unbearable pain was and how the WalkON Suit F1 helps to restore mobility as well as smooth the transition between the past and the future.
