Berkeley Bionics: Introducing eLEGS

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Berkeley - A company called Berkeley Bionics has launched a new product called eLegs. The wearable, artificially intelligent bionic device allows people who have lost function of their legs to stand and walk.

Berkeley Bionics makes exoskeletons that "augment human strength, endurance and mobility." Today the company announced its new eLEGS product which is based on early work at the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering lab.

Announced at a press conference in San Francisco today, eLEGS allow a disabled or paraplegic person to walk as though they have full control over their lower body. The company says its knee flexion technology is better than competing exoskeletons which translates into the most natural human movement available by robotics today.

“Many of the six million Americans who live with some form of paralysis today were highly active and at the top of their game when they sustained their injury," said Berkeley Bionics’ CEO, Eythor Bender. "As they research their options for increased mobility, they discover wheelchairs are pretty much it. This has been the only alternative – their only hope – for nearly 500 years.

Bender says eLEGS allow disabled people to stand up and walk for the first time since their injury.

The company says walking speed depends on the patient's aptitude and condition, but it's not impossible to reach speed of 2 mph (3.2 km/h). It can be made to fit most people between 5’2 and 6’4” and weighing 220 lbs or less, in minutes. In order to fasten oneself to the device, he or she uses Velcro straps, backpack-style clips and shoulder straps. eLEGS fits over the user's clothes and shoes.

The eLEGS exoskeleton is battery-powered and uses sensors within a gesture-based human-machine interface to determine movement. It pays attention to the gestures of the user and then attempts to determine the user's intentions by initiating movement. The company says a real-time computer monitors the sensors and input devices to coordinate every aspect of a single stride.

The device will first be offered to rehab centers to use under medical supervision, the company says, and clinical trials are set to start early next year in the U.S.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298635#ixzz17Ghyq9DY


Hogg, C. (2010). Bionics: Introducing eLEGS. Digital journal. In the media. Berkeley. Retrieved Oct 7 2010 from http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298635#ixzz14421yNMJ