Another exciting development in wheelchair technology as reported by MedGadget last week in their post Wheelchair on Autopilot Follows Bipedaled Humans. This new technology has been introduced by engineers at Saitama University's Human-Robot Interaction Center in Japan. They have created a wheelchair movement system that keeps the wheelchair next to a person wearing a radio beacon. It is reportedly smart enough to anticipate turns and determine whether or not it should move beside the companion, or follow behind, when moving through congested or tight areas. Commercial production should follow soon.
And in other news, Rex the robotic exoskeleton aims to make wheelchairs obsolete! as Engadget.com reported last month. Click the link to read the full press release and watch some really cool videos of Rex.
This set of bionic legs is the product of seven years of development work by Rex Bionics and Dr. Richard Roxburgh, a neurologist in Auckland, New Zealand. The Rex exoskeleton can support the full weight of a person, and according to the company's press release, assists a person who usually uses a wheelchair, enabling them to stand, walk and go up and down steps and slopes. So, paraplegics can move around in a familiar bipedal fashion. A joystick and control pad allow for easy navigation and is simple enough for handicapped users to self transfer in and out. The company plans an international launch in 2011. Wow!
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