A new leg exoskeleton can improve the efficiency of walking by 7 percent – and do it with no power source—according to scientists at North Carolina State University who published their research today in Nature. Their creation could be a big boon for people with low mobility.
The device provides support through the carbon fiber frame and attached springs, which act as secondary muscles in the device. The spring and frame combine act as a sort of calf muscle. In doing so, they reroute energy that would normally go through a person's calf muscle and tendons. The whole thing weighs a little more than a pound, and most users were able to ignore it after about 20 minutes of use.
The device is still in the beginning stages, and won't work for running. But it's a big step toward improving the efficiency of walking, whether its for a hiker or someone who needs a boost in efficiency to save their energy.
The device provides support through the carbon fiber frame and attached springs, which act as secondary muscles in the device. The spring and frame combine act as a sort of calf muscle. In doing so, they reroute energy that would normally go through a person's calf muscle and tendons. The whole thing weighs a little more than a pound, and most users were able to ignore it after about 20 minutes of use.
The device is still in the beginning stages, and won't work for running. But it's a big step toward improving the efficiency of walking, whether its for a hiker or someone who needs a boost in efficiency to save their energy.
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