HAL Exoskeleton Assisted Mountain Climbing 100
OzPeter writes "The Age is reporting that two experienced mountain climbers will wear Japanese HAL exoskeletons to assist in carrying a quadriplegic and a muscular dystrophy sufferer to the summit of a Swiss mountain. Although they will be starting only 280 meters below the summit, it will still be an impressive feat." Slashdot covered the HAL exoskeleton late last year.
Great Name Choice (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:2)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:1)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:1)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:1)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:1)
Re:Great Name Choice (Score:3, Funny)
I think we have bigger problems. The company making HAL is Cyberdyne [wikipedia.org]. We may never know who launches the first strike.
For safety's sake (Score:5, Funny)
Re:For safety's sake (Score:2)
Re:For safety's sake (Score:3, Funny)
Extreme conditions (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:$1 million dollar man finally arrives... (Score:1)
The $6 dollar man finally arrives...
workit harder better faster stronger (Score:1)
wtf? (Score:4, Funny)
let me get this straight. A robot called "HAL" developed by Cyberdyne?
For pities sake: stop this evil genius now! Before we have to go back in time and do it!
I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:wtf? (Score:2)
Re:wtf? (Score:4, Funny)
Don't worry, we'll just send Reese back. No one likes him and he'll do anything to get laid. It's the perfect way to finally get rid of him.
-Eric
Ummm. (Score:1, Interesting)
Might as well find the nearest hill where they live and save all the expense.
Re:Ummm. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Ummm. (Score:2, Insightful)
I think the point is that these disabled people will get to experience some of the hiking experience as well as seeing the summit.
I suppose they could also see the summit via some other means.. maybe by helicoptor? Or from space? Or in a picture?
Why do people bother to run a marathon? It's easier to drive.
Mountain rubbish (Score:3, Interesting)
This mission is too important to jeopardize it (Score:2)
Nerves of steel (Score:2, Funny)
"Uhh, hold on here, my HAL is frozen solid."
Or...
"Uh oh, my HAL is out of juice... I guess you're rolling back down."
Re:Nerves of steel (Score:2)
Why the HAL? (Score:2, Insightful)
Nonetheless, the climbe
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:3, Insightful)
Anyone who's been through physical rehabilitation probably wouldn't agree with that...
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:2)
(Just kidding. Info elsewhere states that it weighs 21kg, so there is a net benefit)
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:2)
well, it does need batteries. Also I think that likely this suit always gives an 80kg improvement, rather than an 80% increase as someone else mentioned, so it would always help, but as you say, exercising helps too (but isnt instantaneous). For someone who could only lift 20kg because of disability or injury though, for example, the extra 80kg boost would be rather useful. I should read TFA >_>
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:2)
It's pretty amazing if the person wearing it has anything like the level of control he has over his unenhanced leg.
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:2)
It's not really to demonstrate that they can get people up the mountain, or even to actually get people up the mountain. It is to demonstrate that the HAL system will work on a mountain.
And they will learn where it is good and where it is bad. Useful goals, on an early generation of potential tech.
Re:Why the HAL? (Score:1)
The real use of this, which they don't mention, is war fighting. You know those Japanese are obsessed with mecha destroying each other, and the t
Re:Our army dosen't care about protecting soldiers (Score:1)
I appreciate your political rant. Really.
Re:Our army dosen't care about protecting soldiers (Score:1)
You could sit in a tank all day for what good it would do you. Why not have the fam send you a big steel box to sit in?
The future will be light, hard composites. As the bullet strikes it, it pivots to a higher relative angle as
What are you lifting, DAVE? (Score:3, Funny)
Cue Robocop Music (Score:1)
Impressive feat? I think not... (Score:5, Funny)
They've got a long way to go (Score:2, Funny)
Re:They've got a long way to go (Score:2)
Re:They've got a long way to go (Score:2)
Re:They've got a long way to go (Score:2)
Now, I hope you have one HAL of a day, man!
hehe image word: musical
Wake up and smell the ashes (Score:1)
Re:Wake up and smell the ashes (Score:1)
Hurry up! (Score:5, Funny)
From the FAQ:
Q. Can we go to the bathroom or take a bath with HAL ?
A. We are researching it now.
For the love of god, please hurry up!
Re:Hurry up! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hurry up! (Score:2)
Robosexuals?
"Stay away from our women! You've got metal fever, boy! Metal fever!" -- Bender
I'm sorry Dave... (Score:2)
Call it OW instead of HAL "Overhyped Wench" (Score:2)
-Eric
"Overhyped Wench"?!? (Score:5, Funny)
Pffffffttttttttt!!!!! (Score:1)
Nice I guess.. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Nice I guess.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Gee, overstate the obvious, will ya?
Clearly the ultimate goal of this is to improve the mobility of folks who are disabled, but they first need to grasp basic concepts before tackling the complex challenges the disabled have. It's difficult to develop interactive and predictive motion assist on test subjects who have limited motion. Then there are the myriad of challenges with the nature of disabilities -
This summary reads like a James Watt quote... (Score:2)
--James Watt, Secrety of the Interior under Reagan, describing his staff to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on September 21, 1983; this comment led directly to his forced resignation.
Re:This summary reads like a James Watt quote... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:This summary reads like a James Watt quote... (Score:2)
Sounds like Secretary Watt vastly overestimated the U.S.C.C.'s sense of humor. His resignation was probably for the best, even if Reagan could've used a man of his talent.
Oblig. Futurama quote (Score:2)
Re:Oblig. Futurama quote (Score:1)
Yes there are easier tests (Score:1)
And no you don't actually need the mountain to show what the suit can do, but it looks a lot better than just lifting a bunch of weights in a laboratory.
Also, can we please stop with all of the HAL jokes. I think they got old about 5 minutes after this story was posted.
Terminate them while we have the chance (Score:2, Funny)
Is it just me, or does it sound like a bad idea to start messing with technology produced by the Cyberdyne Corporation [wikipedia.org]...? Anyone up for a little time travel?
Impressive but... (Score:1)
Sponteneous, Disparate Group-Think (Score:2)
It is interesting that thousands, possibly tens of thousands of people all thought the exact same thing as they read this article summary.
Errr (Score:2)
Re:Errr (Score:1)
Nixon's Back! (Score:1)
Cyberdine? RUN!!!!!!!! (Score:2)
Wait a minute... Cyberdyne? WTF? Remember these guys?
1984-1991 Cyberdyne Systems Corporation is formed to study the uncovered remains of the Terminator and further cybernetic and artificial intelligence research. Miles Dyson serves as the chief inventor responsible for a rev
What's the quadriplegic doing? (Score:1)
But anyway I'm glad the piggyback rider will get a chance to see something he wouldn't otherwise be able to see. Unless someone drove him up. Or he took a helicopter. Or maybe a tram.
Back in the middle ages (Score:1)
Or maybe just those suits brought a lot of money for the guys developing them.
Helps soldiers unload without offloading... (Score:2)
New wince-inducing DOD-targeted adverts from drug-OD'd marketing contractors:
"Enemy closing ing? Gotta take a shit on the run? Adjust your servos and just squat a bit. Might need a mirror and an extender accessory, though... But, we have that extension in beta...It's called "MILES Behind, and ALICE Hind Loader"
Gives a new take on the German word that sounds like "Hingerlader"... Just twist t