Chad Fair

Cyborg-type robot that can support, expand or improve physical capability.

Capable of allowing the operator to lift and carry about five times as much weight as he or she could lift and carry unaided

Two Versions HAL 3 – Legs only HAL 5 – Full body suit

Researched started by Dr. Sankai, a professor at Tsukuba University in Japan.

HAL was created for rehabilitation patients and physical training support in medical field.

Can also be used for heavy labor, and possible rescue support at disaster sites,

Possibly in the entertainment field in the future.

Not intended for Military Use

Voluntary control system

When a person attempts to move, nerve signals are sent from the brain to the muscles from the motoneurons and very weak biosignals can be detected on the surface of the skin.

HAL catches these signals through a sensor attached on the skin of the user.

Based on the signals obtained, the power unit is controlled to move the suit in unison with the user's muscle movement.

Robotic autonomous control system provides human-like movement based on a

robotic system which works together with the autonomous control system

HAL is the world's first cyborg-type robot controlled by a hybrid system voluntary control system mixed with

a robotic autonomous control system

Very Successful By October 2012, over 300 HAL suits were in use by

130 medical facilities in Japan In late February 2013, HAL received a global safety

certificate, becoming the first powered exoskeleton to do so

In November 2011, HAL was selected to be used for cleanup work at the site of the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Increases patients stride length and walking speed significantly

Only available in Japan at the moment

Expensive to the public $14,000-19,000 for one suit

Decreases physiological cost Index after a patient uses HAL

Very Short Battery Life Needs to be continuously charged

Suit with… Longer Battery Life Less weight Less expensive to public Give more support to the user

Therapeutic games using the HAL that can stimulate cognitive activities and help disabled patients walk while playing.

Cyberdyne plans on modifying suits specifically for disaster recovery like the Fukushima nuclear accident

Wikipedia: HAL (Robot) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_(robot) >.

Efficiency of HAL <http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/11/116 >.

Robotic Suit HAL <http://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/robotsuithal/>

New HAL Exoskeleton <http://neurogadget.com/2012/10/18/new-hal-exoskeleton-brain-controlled-full-body-suit-to-be-used-in-fukushima-cleanup/5612>

HAL-5: The Exoskeleton Robot <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20043544-247.html>