As pesquisas na área de reabilitação estão à todo o vapor. O projeto é da NASA Johnson Space Center com o IHMC (Institute for Human and Machine Cognition) da Flórida.
A NASA chama seu robô de "X1" e o IHMC de "Mina".
A pesquisa da NASA foi direcionada para ajudar na mobilidade dos astronautas em suas missões. Já o IHMC em parceria com a NASA vem utilizando o "X1" como um esqueleto para suportar o corpo do paraplégico, viabilizando-o a ficar de pé e caminhar. São 4 motores alinhados na costela e nos joelhos que permitem tal façanha.
Não tenho dúvidas que num futuro próximo, essa tecnologia já estará disponível comercialmente.
X1 is a ten degree of freedom robotic exoskeleton designed and built as a collaboration between the NASA Johnson Space Center and the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). Developed using Robonaut technology, X1 was initially designed as a human assist device to allow persons with paraplegia to walk again. Strategically designed motors allow for high torque applications such as stair climbing, while multiple points of adjustment allow for a wide range of users. We are now exploring space applications for exoskeletons, such as amplifying astronaut strength, or even as exercise devices for long duration missions.
Worn over the legs with a harness that reaches up the back and around the shoulders, X1 has 10 degrees of freedom, four joints at the hips and the knees, and six joints that allow for sidestepping, turning and pointing and flexing the foot.
Like other exoskeletons on the market, the potential of X1 extends to other applications such as rehabilitation, gait modification and offloading large amounts of weight from the wearer. Preliminary studies by IHMC have shown the X1 to be more comfortable and easier to adjust and put on than their previous exoskeletons. And with development plans already in the works to add more active joints to areas such as the ankle and hip, the possibilities are endless.
Abaixo alguns depoimentos de usuários que tem ajudado nas pesquisas.
Mina is a lower extremity robotic exoskeleton developed by researchers at the IHMC to provide up-right mobility to paraplegic users. Mina features four motors that are aligned with the user's hip and knee joints to restore ambulation.
Mina is worn like a backpack with additional straps at the waist, thigh, and just below the knee. An onboard computer controls the motors to move in a walking fashion while the user provides balance with a pair of forearm crutches. With just a few hours of training, the two paraplegic evaluators were able to walk with minimal physical and cognitive effort.
Navegando um pouco mais encontrei algumas empresas avançando em pesquisas com a mesma premissa.
A americana Ekso Bionics
A israelense Re-Walk
A japonesa Cyberdyne com o seu Robot Suit HAL - para diversos usos e não só a reabilitação
E o XOS2 da Raytheon Company, estritamente para uso militar
