HAL (robot)
The Hybrid Assistive Limb, short HAL (hybrid supporting limb ) is a servo - exoskeleton suit, which was developed by Tsukuba University in Japan and the robotics company Cyberdyne Inc.. It was designed to support the physical abilities of its users and to expand, especially people with physical disabilities. There are two versions of this prototype system:
- HAL 3, which exclusively offers leg function and
- HAL 5, which is a full-body exoskeleton for arms, legs and torso. HAL 5 allows the user to lift five times more weight and to carry than without.
2011 announced Cyberdyne and Tsukuba University together on that hospital trials of whole-body HAL robot suit would start in 2012 with tests up to 2014 or 2015. Until October 2012 HAL robot suits were in 130 different medical institutions throughout Japan in use. In February 2013, the HAL system was the first servo exoskeleton that received worldwide safety certification.
History
The first HAL prototype was proposed by Yoshiyuki Sankai (Japanese嘉 之 山海), a professor at Tsukuba University. Fascinated by robots since early childhood, Sankai strove to create a robot suit to help people. " In 1989, after acquiring the Ph.D. in robotics, he began with the development of HAL. Sankai spent three years (1990-1993) in order to localize the neurons that control the leg movement. He needed another four years and his team to construct a prototype of the hardware.
The third HAL prototype, which was developed in the early 2000s was connected to a computer. But his battery weighed nearly 22 kg, and there were two helpers needed to attract him, which was very inconvenient. Cyberdynes newer HAL -5 model weighs only 10 kg and the battery and the control unit is fastened around the waist of the user.
Cyberdyne began by letting the robot suits for medical purposes in 2008. Until October 2012 on 300 HAL robot suits were part of 130 medical institutions and nursing homes throughout Japan in use. The robot suit is available for institutional hiring a rental price of $ 2,000, only in Japan. In December 2012, Cyberdyne ISO 13485 was certified - an international quality standard for medical equipment by Underwriters Laboratories. End of February 2013 was awarded the HAL robot suit a global security certificate and was thus the first servo exoskeleton. In August 2013 Cyberdynes HAL got an EC certificate ( "European Conformity" / European Conformity ) according to the (Medical Device Directive, MDD / directive for medical devices ) as the first robotic device for medical treatment in the world.
HAL in Germany
In summer 2012, two European clinics were initially equipped with the robot suit. In October 2012, the first center in Europe was opened for Neurorobotales movement training with HAL robot suits at the Bochum University Bergmannsheil. After completion of the test phase, a German-Japanese joint venture company ( " Cyberdyne Care Robotics GmbH " with Cyberdyne, Japan, and the professional association raw materials and chemical industry ( BGRCI ) as shareholders ) was established in the Europe-wide demarcation ( first in Germany, Austria, Switzerland ) of the HAL robot suits.
Mechanics
In motor nerve signals are sent from the brain via the motor neurons to the muscles that move the musculoskeletal system in motion. This produces low threshold biosignals to the skin surface can be detected and removed. The HAL robot suit registers these signals through a sensor on the wearer's skin and sends it to its servo unit, which moves each to support the joint. The HAL robot suit has both an activatable by the user " random control system" ( English: "voluntary control system" ) and a " robotics autonomous control system" ( English: " robotic autonomous control system" ) for automatic movement support.
Users / target groups
HAL has been designed to support disabled and elderly people in their daily lives, but can also be used to relieve workers with physically stressful activities (eg Kathastrophenrettung or works ). HAL is mainly used by disabled patients in hospitals and can be modified such that they can use it for a long-term rehabilitation.
During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES ) 2011 verlautbarte that the government of the United States have made known interest in acquiring HAL robot suits. In March 2011 CYBERDYNE presented a plain leg HAL version for the disabled, nurses and factory workers. In November 2011, HAL has been selected to perform cleanup on the grounds of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. During the " Japan Robot Week exhibition" ( German: "Messe Japanese Robot Week" ) in Tokyo in October 2012 was presented a revised version of HAL, which had been developed specifically for the cleanup in Fukushima. In March 2013 resulted in ten Japanese hospitals by clinical tests of the youngest Only Leg HAL system.
Scientific studies have shown that servo exoskeletons like the HAL - 5 in conjunction with specially designed therapeutic games can stimulate cognitive activities and can help move disabled children while they play
Recent applications:
- Run support in the Japanese police
- Use in crop workers in Japan