The WalkON Suit F1 is a 50 kg exoskeleton designed to help paraplegics walk and perform everyday tasks.
The exoskeleton features sensors that predict movements and detect obstacles, offering a seamless experience for users with spinal cord injuries.
Inspired by "Iron Man," the WalkON Suit F1 allows paraplegics to approach, lock onto, and stand from a wheelchair with ease.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have unveiled a lightweight wearable robot that enables paraplegics to walk, navigate obstacles, and even climb stairs. The WalkON Suit F1 exoskeleton promises to improve the mobility of people with spinal cord injuries, making their daily lives easier.
The WalkON Suit F1 weighs 50 kg and is made of durable aluminum and titanium. It is powered by 12 electronic motors that mimic the movement of human joints, allowing users to walk at 3.2km/h. It also allows users to navigate staircases, take sideways steps, and even sit down. It also has a unique feature in that it approaches a person in a wheelchair, locks onto them, and helps them stand up.
Kim Seung-hwan, a paraplegic member of the KAIST team, explained, “It can approach me wherever I am, even when I’m sitting in a wheelchair, and help me stand up.”
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The WalkON Suit F1 is equipped with a number of sensors to maintain balance and ensure smooth movement. According to reports, these sensors are located on the soles and upper body, allowing them to monitor 1,000 signals per second and predict user movements. It also includes lenses that act as eyes, allowing users with complete paraplegia to detect obstacles and stairs while compensating for their lack of sensory abilities.
The project is a labor of love for the entire team. A team member, Park Jeong-su, revealed that his interest in exoskeletons was sparked by the film Iron Man. “After watching Iron Man, I thought it would be great if I could help people with a robot in real life,” he told me.
Kim Seung-hwan won a gold medal in the exoskeleton category at the Cybathlon 2024, a competition where developers with physical disabilities showed off their assistive robots.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. Previously, he worked as a Senior Sub-Editor with Jagran English from 2022, and has been a journalist since 2020, with experience at Times Internet. Ashish specializes in Technology. In his free time, you can find him exploring new gadgets, gaming, and discovering new places. View Full Profile
