{"id":803,"date":"2017-09-06T10:17:26","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T09:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/?p=803"},"modified":"2017-09-19T09:03:56","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T08:03:56","slug":"the-future-of-robotic-exoskeletons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/the-future-of-robotic-exoskeletons\/","title":{"rendered":"The future of robotic exoskeletons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Robotic exoskeletons suits will one day see widespread use in the workplace, to increase capabilities and reduce injury. Chris Johnson outlines some of the key benefits of this technology, with a particular focus on development<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hollywood has created a huge buzz around robotic exoskeleton suits.<\/p>\n<p>Technology portrayed in<em> Iron Man<\/em>, the <em>Edge of Tomorrow<\/em>, and <em>Avatar<\/em> all show humans with superhuman abilities because of robotic add-ons.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><!-- Engineer News Network --><\/p>\n<p><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7565662001938327\" data-ad-slot=\"6176629146\" data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins> <script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Robotic exoskeletons are metal frameworks, fitted with motors and sensors, which multiply the wearer\u2019s strength beyond their natural capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>The framework allows the wearer to lift heavier objects without injury, offering huge potential benefits for the health of workers in factories, warehouses and even nursing homes.<\/p>\n<p>The point of these exoskeletons is to augment the human workforce, enhancing a person&#8217;s own ability.<\/p>\n<p>As Homayoon Kazerooni, a University of California robotics professor, explained earlier this year, \u201cIt\u2019s not about making workers superman. We want to eliminate the pain of the physical labour of these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kazerooni certainly brings this Hollywood technology back down to earth, breaking the Hollywood fantasy expectation.<\/p>\n<p>Robotic exoskeletons could one day create a society where anyone, regardless of strength, can partake in industrial work processes.<\/p>\n<p>Panasonic laid the foundations for this with its AWN-03 assist robot. Using auto-assist technology, this robotic exoskeleton uses sensors to detect when the wearer is lifting heavy objects. In response, it raises the wearer&#8217;s upper body and pushes on the user&#8217;s thighs to reduce strain on the back by 15kg.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Development<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Just as the health and strength of real human skeletons are dependent on good decisions, such as diet, to ensure effective movement and longevity, robotic skeletons are also dependant on similar wisdom.<\/p>\n<p>With specialists in robot software, sensor technology and mechanical engineers working together to drive the development of robotic exoskeletons, every decision is a make or break contribution \u2014 including bearing choice.<\/p>\n<p>Sapporo Precision, the leading bearing specialist, is already supplying EZO thin-type precision bearings for robotic exoskeleton applications.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from taking up less space and being much lighter than standard types, these bearings have the high precision and good rotational accuracy required for robotic exoskeletons, as a result of EZO\u2019s advanced manufacturing techniques and quality control.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, if robotic exoskeletons are to be used in a controlled environment such as a clean room, specialist bearing lubricants will also be required. This reduces risk of contamination caused by greases giving off vapour, a problem known as outgassing.<\/p>\n<p>Bearing materials and the lubricants must be carefully chosen to avoid such complications. Powered exoskeleton suits are fast becoming a reality across various industries, and are no longer just a Hollywood concept.<\/p>\n<p>With an estimated several hundred commercial and experimental exoskeletons now in operation globally, this technology is not just for Iron Man, but for a regular man or woman.<\/p>\n<p>Even if current exoskeleton suits don\u2019t bestow superhuman powers, they will increasingly impact workers&#8217; lives by assisting people in performing heavy labour jobs with fewer injuries. Chris Johnson is managing director of specialist bearing supplier <span class=\"highlight highlight-blue\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.smbbearings.com\/\">SMB Bearings<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Robotic exoskeletons suits will one day see widespread use in the workplace, to increase capabilities and reduce injury. Chris Johnson outlines some of the key benefits of this technology, with a particular focus on development Hollywood has created a huge buzz around robotic exoskeleton suits. Technology portrayed in Iron Man, the Edge of Tomorrow, and &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[105],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-design"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The future of robotic exoskeletons - Engineer News Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engineernewsnetwork.com\/blog\/the-future-of-robotic-exoskeletons\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The future of robotic exoskeletons - Engineer News Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Robotic exoskeletons suits will one day see widespread use in the workplace, to increase capabilities and reduce injury. Chris Johnson outlines some of the key benefits of this technology, with a particular focus on development Hollywood has created a huge buzz around robotic exoskeleton suits. 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