In the fields of medical rehabilitation and industrial production, heavy physical labor and damage to physical functions have always been insurmountable challenges.
However, with the rapid development of intelligent machine technology, a kind of robotic device called “exoskeleton” is quietly changing all this.
Whether it is helping paralyzed patients stand and walk again or reducing the physical burden on workers with high-intensity labor, this technology is giving humans more power.
At the Salud Vizcaya Hospital in Quirón, Spain, doctor Sara Garcia is assisting a staff member in demonstrating a lower limb powered exoskeleton device called “HANK”.
This device tightly wraps the human legs and has control buttons on the rear.
Through precise mechanical transmission, people who were originally in wheelchairs can stand up smoothly and take natural steps.
According to Garcia, this exoskeleton can accurately simulate human walking and help patients rebuild their neuromotor system.
“This walking exoskeleton can assist patients in moving the three major joints of their lower limbs: hip joints, knee joints and ankle joints. The equipment can replicate the natural gait and help patients walk independently. The entire equipment is a rehabilitation aid and must be used in a clinical environment under medical care and supervision.”
For patients with limited mobility due to spinal cord injury, stroke or neuromuscular disease, “HANK” is not only a walking tool, but also the key to rekindling hope for recovery.
Sara Garcia said: “With the help of this exoskeleton, patients can gradually regain their walking ability. When moving in the ward, the equipment can guide patients to adopt a standard gait and correct subtle walking posture abnormalities caused by various diseases.”
In addition to helping stroke patients regain their lives, exoskeleton technology also shows great application potential in industrial manufacturing situations that require heavy physical strength.
At a foundry in Spain, engineer Ario Ba wears a passive exoskeleton designed for industry to carry heavy aluminum casings.
Different from power drives in the medical field, industrial exoskeletons mainly rely on mechanical support to redistribute body forces.
Ario Ba said that this can significantly reduce people’s sense of burden.
“This set of equipment can greatly share the weight of heavy objects, and the feeling of load-bearing is significantly reduced. The only minor problem is that it feels a little restrained after wearing it. After adjusting the fit of the equipment, you will move more freely.”
With the iteration of technology, industrial exoskeletons are being tested more and more widely in industries such as automobile manufacturing, logistics, and construction to reduce work-related injuries caused by repeated lifting and poor posture.
Antonio Del-Arma, a professor at King Juan Carlos University, believes that the future development of this field will even exceed the medical industry due to the more predictable industrial environment.
“The application influence of exoskeletons in the industrial field may exceed that of the medical rehabilitation field. The adaptation and debugging of a healthy human body is far simpler than that of patients with mobility impairments. At the same time, the factory operation process is highly standardized and standardized. We can rely on standardized process data to customize exoskeletons that suit various working scenarios.
“Exoskeletons and electromechanical assistive equipment.”
From hospital wards that help paralyzed patients take the first step in recovery to roaring machine workshops that protect industrial workers from strain, exoskeletons are transforming cold machinery into extensions of the human body, making future life and work easier and safer.
