Body Extender Exoskeleton

Body Extender Exoskeleton Can lift over 100 pounds in Each Hand

Why buy a robot when you can wear one? Especially if wearing one makes you into an alien-fighting superhero. The “body extender” exoskeleton made by engineers at Italy’s Perceptual Robotics Laboratory is just that, and is touted as the most advanced wearable robot out there.

This exoskeleton is very flexible, and it essentially tracks a user’s movements — if the wearer squats or bends to pick something up, the exoskeleton goes with him, albeit slowing down his actions just a little bit. This is how it gets the name “body extender,” as it integrates with the wearer seamlessly enough that it functions as an extension of his body, rather than as a separate apparatus.

The exoskeleton is fully actuated and is powered by an electric motor. It’s got 22 degrees of freedom, many of which are in the enormous hands, which can grip, twist, and pull objects. These abilities are particularly helpful in disaster relief scenarios in which someone might be, for instance, clearing heavy debris. While the exoskeleton isn’t eligible for competitions such as the DARPA Robotics Challenge, given that it’s human-driven rather than software-driven, it seems to be able to perform many of the same functions. Perhaps most impressive is the exoskeleton’s ability to heft over 100 pounds in each hand — with its forearms extended. Someone should wear this thing to the gym!