World Cup 2014 will begin with a mind-controlled exoskeleton kick off

Just this weekend we saw the amazing advances in bionic prosthetics that allow paralyzed and amputated people to use robotic assistance to move just like any regular person would. And now millions others will see it in the World Cup 2014 kick off in Brazil.

The Walking Again project is working to make possible for the World Cup kick off to be done by a paralyzed teen using a mind-controlled exoskeleton. The youngster will not only leave her wheelchair behind and give a few steps, but will kick off the ball as well - all done via mind control, thanks to a custom made helmet that will allow the system to capture the signals from her brain.

Maybe a few more years from now, such exoskeletons will not only allow for someone to kick off the ball, but to play a soccer game as well, and make it really hard for regular human player to keep up with the extra power and endurance of these robotic systems.

Lockheed Martin HULC

It won't turn you into Hulk, but it well get close. This HULC is an exoskeleton developed by Lockheed Martin (for the military) allowing soldier to carry heavy backpacks with little effort.



Now... it's just a matter of time this type of technology makes its way to more mundane jobs like heavy duty workers in construction or industrial settings.

ReWalk - to Walk Again

Here's the kind of news we should hear about more often.

Finally, the technological advances in robotics and exoskeletons are reaching the ones needing them the most.

After 20 years of wheelchair "confinement", a man was able to walk again with ReWalk.

Ironically, the man who devised this system is himslef unable to use his own invention.  Amit Goffer is a quadraplegic without the necessary dexterity to operate ReWalk.
(At least, not in this current form. But who knows what the future may hold?)

It also makes us wonder: what could we (as a human race) achieve if instead of wasting billions in weapons, we dedicated all those resources to enhance our lives and the world we live in...



via [Medgadget]

Berkely Exoskeletons on Pre-Order

Check these amazing exoskeletons from Berkely Bionics, allowing you to run with less effort and carry loads you wouldn't normally be able to.


[Youtube video]

Now you can buy your own (or should I say - pre-order it - as we're still waiting for a final price.)

But considering the rising prices of fuel, I think it may be worth to sell you automobile and start "walking" to work in one of these. :)

Remember Ripley? Exoskeletons are here!

For many, the idea of having a super-powerful exoskeleton that would allow anyone to perform complex activities without effort came up in, after watching James Cameron's Aliens.

Well... it took them over 20 years but I think they finally got it!
Just watch it:



I definitely want one of those for Christmas! :)