Ultimate Backpack!

wind2000 · Sep 20, 2007

Researchers in the MIT Media Lab's Biomechatronics Group have created a device to lighten the burden for soldiers and others who carry heavy packs and equipment.

Graduate student Conor Walsh demonstrates a prototype of the 'exoskeleton' he and other MIT researchers have devised. The invention can successfully take on 80 percent of an 80-pound load carried on a person's back. (Credit: Photo by Samuel Au)Ads by Google Advertise on this site

Their invention, known as an exoskeleton, can support much of the weight of a heavy backpack and transfer that weight directly to the ground, effectively taking a load off the back of the person wearing the device.

The researchers report that their prototype can successfully take on 80 percent of an 80-pound load carried on a person's back, but there's one catch: The current model impedes the natural walking gait of the person wearing it.

"You can definitely tell it's affecting your gait," said Conor Walsh, a graduate student who worked on the project, but "you do feel it taking the load off and you definitely feel less stress on your upper body."

The research team was led by Hugh Herr, principal investigator of the Biomechatronics Group and associate professor in the MIT Media Lab. Earlier this summer, Herr and his colleagues unveiled the world's first robotic ankle for lower-limb amputees.

Eventually Herr hopes to create assistive leg devices that can be useful for anyone. Herr said he envisions leg exoskeletons that could help people run without breathing hard, as well as help to carry heavy loads.

"Our dream is that 20 years from now, people won't go to bike racks--they'll go to leg racks," he said.

Exoskeleton devices could boost the weight that a person can carry, lessen the likelihood of leg or back injury and reduce the perceived level of difficulty of carrying a heavy load.

The person wearing the exoskeleton places his or her feet in boots attached to a series of tubes that run up the leg to the backpack, transferring the weight of the backpack to the ground. Springs at the ankle and hip and a damping device at the knee allow the device to approximate the walking motion of a human leg, with a very small external power input (one watt).

Other research teams have produced exoskeleton devices that can successfully carry a load but require a large power source (about 3,000 watts, supplied by a gasoline engine).

When the MIT researchers tested their device, they found that although the load borne by the wearer's back was lightened, the person carrying the load had to consume 10 percent more oxygen than normal, because of the extra effort to compensate for the gait interference.

The team hopes to revise the design so the exoskeleton more closely mimics the movement of a human leg, allowing for more normal walking motion. The most important result of this study, says Walsh, is that the team's spring-based, low-energy design shows promise.

"This is the first time that it has been tested," he said. "We didn't know what to expect."

This research is reported in the September issue of the International Journal of Humanoid Robotics.

The research was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070919170025.htm

Thats one ugly invention. >.<

Dan · Sep 20, 2007

hmm... i thought the ultimate back pack would be a nice looking bag that has a spot for any device and gadget, and has a charger so you can charge them... among other features..

this.. exoskeleton... isnt it cumbersome when you have to walk with it, and roll, fight, and do stuff, when the bars are right beside your leg?

[N] · Sep 20, 2007

yup true, it's ugly as hell, wouldn't want to carry that thing everywhere even if it does take weight off my back lol, if only they could make it without that attachment from the waist down...

Veincentury · Sep 20, 2007

nice...now to take that invention to my iron man suit lab...

WinterSky · Sep 23, 2007

they could probably ask the US military for funding if they ever needed it ^_^

wantirnaar · Sep 23, 2007

nice pack but will it win the olympic? LOL

xiaojia · Sep 23, 2007

cool.. and they can probably replace the human legs while their on it so that soldiers can run faster and jump further. then maybe have robotic arms to reduce impact from recoil and increase accuracy.. hmm.. maybe they should just invent cyborg soldiers..

Dan · Sep 23, 2007

i saw a show on tv that mentioned us marines developing similar technologies..

The_Jelly · Sep 23, 2007

^ Same here, I pretty sure it was on TV as well.

ProjectD · Sep 24, 2007

wouldnt want that

Ultimate Backpack!

wind2000 Self Schemata

Dan 8-D

[N] RATED [ ]

Veincentury Well-Known Member

WinterSky Well-Known Member

wantirnaar Well-Known Member

xiaojia Well-Known Member

Dan 8-D

The_Jelly NSFW? :P

ProjectD VIP yay :]