Hybrid Assistive Limbs

In a lovely turn of events, a paraplegic student was able to walk to his graduation ceremony this past semester. Austin Whitney, who was paralyzed in a car accident a few years ago, was recently given an exoskeleton to borrow. The exoskeleton was nicknamed "Austin," after the student. It was designed to aid those who cannot walk.

For those of us with less noble ambitions, the body can be augmented on the cheap, with rental devices from Japanese company Cyberdyne (yes, the company that made the Terminator). The Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL, is available for rental. They need somebody to give them better, less apocalyptic names.

These type of devices have been in development for a while in the US Military, but always run into battery problems. The special thing about the HAL device is that it uses specialized sensors to determine intended muscle movement by weak signals sent through the skin. Thus, it is possible for people with some nervous system issues to still use the device, depending on their exact condition.

http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/18/6663383-exoskeleton-lets-paraplegic-student-walk-at-graduation

http://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/robotsuithal/index.html