Iron Man: Here to save the day

If Tony Stark were a real scientist, he would work for CYBERDYNE Systems of Japan, a company who has developed a rudimentary model of the Iron Man suit. They have created a powered exoskeleton suit capable of increasing the strength of it's wearer tenfold: the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) is currently undergoing field tests for a slated full production in the near future. Currently, versions of HAL are available for rent for $1300 per month. 

HAL strikes a super hero pose. 

HAL uses electrodes on the operator's skin to sense electrical impulses from muscles, and sends them to the onboard computer of the suit. This activates the servos (error-sensing feedback loops that correct the performance of a mechanism) to mimic the wearer's actions. A 100-volt battery powers the arms, legs, and torso of the entire suit.  Another version of the skeleton includes only leg attachments, making it far lighter and easier to power. On it's website, the company also claims that the device can operate autonomously- a very important factor for patients suffering from spinal injuries or other physical disabilities. 

Other companies and universities are also hard at work trying to achieve the "Iron Man Ideal" with their suits. M.I.T.'s Biomechatronics Groups has developed another lower-body exoskeleton that functions similarly to HAL. Hugh Herr, the principal investigator for the group, related the difficulties of developing mechanisms that could cover the large diversity in medical needs. "One might have knee and ankle problems, others might have elbow problems," Herr says. "How in the world do you build a wearable robot that accommodates a lot of people?" 

Consequently, the exoskeletons under development also require gratuitous amounts of energy. Recharging the suits could prove to be too cost inefficient or untimely in the long run for many patients. Herr also warns of another problem, the degradation of muscles when they are not properly rehabilitated by the suits. "If the othotic does everything," he says, "the muscle degrades, so you want the orthotic to do just the right amount of work." In the end, only new scientific advances can help create the ideal exoskeletons. Tony Stark would approve. 

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