Japanese robot wheelchair replacement

A Japanese researcher has succeeded in making robotic legs capable of climbing down stairs, opening up a new era in wheelchair mobility.

(Photo: HTV) 'The elderly people using wheelchairs can not climb stairs, so we decided to create a robot that can do this as well as move on the surface bumpy' Church said Atsuo Takanishi, lead researcher.

Since 2003, in collaboration with Tmsuk, the team has created robot legs that are capable of working in a healthy environment. The latest version of the WL-16RIII can go up the stairs, which require movement from the center of gravity, which is natural in humans.

At a presentation in Tokyo, a student performed successfully with the robot legs up the stairs and moved on a bumpy area.

The legs are now controlled by two hands. But Takanishi will try to make the use of simple robotic legs easier to replace wheelchairs and make life easier for people with paraplegia.

The robots will be available in the next five years.

NS