Key Takeaways
1. The WalkON Suit F1 assists individuals with extreme paraplegia and allows for self-dressing, enhancing user independence.
2. It won a gold medal at the 2024 Cybathlon, showcasing advanced capabilities in navigating various tasks and obstacles.
3. Significant technological advancements include improved motor output density and AI-driven features for obstacle detection and balance.
4. The suit’s unique ‘frontal docking method’ enables users to summon and wear it independently from their wheelchairs.
5. The WalkON Suit F1 represents a major step in wearable robotics, promising to improve daily life and independence for users.
Since 2015, Professor Kyoungchul Kong and his research group have been working on the WalkON Suit to assist individuals experiencing the most extreme forms of paraplegia, classified under the ASIA Impairment Scale–A. The project kicked off with WalkON Suit 1 in 2016 and made significant progress with WalkON Suit 4 in 2020, reaching walking speeds of 3.2 km/h, which is similar to natural walking speeds. Now, with the introduction of the WalkON Suit F1, they have not only tackled the issue of users putting it on by themselves but have also gained international fame.
Achievements in Competitions
The WalkON Suit F1 clinched a gold medal at the 2024 Cybathlon, a global event that highlights assistive technologies designed for individuals with disabilities. Under the guidance of Seunghwan Kim, the suit conquered all tasks in a remarkable time of 6 minutes and 41 seconds. The course required skills like sidestepping around chairs, carrying boxes, and even preparing food. The suit’s AI-driven obstacle detection and self-docking features were key to its success, enabling smooth movement in challenging settings. This victory marked the second time the team secured a gold medal, having won during the 2020 Cybathlon as well.
Advanced Technological Features
The WalkON Suit F1 is filled with cutting-edge technology. Engineers from KAIST, in partnership with Angel Robotics, have managed to double the output density of the motor and reducer modules, as well as triple the performance of the motor driver controls compared to earlier versions. The AI and visual recognition systems help the suit effectively identify and navigate obstacles, while an AI board supports neural network functions. Additionally, the suit can assess and maintain it’s center of gravity, allowing it to stay upright even when pushed. These capabilities enable users to walk without using a cane, granting them exceptional freedom of movement.
Unique Design and User Independence
What makes the WalkON Suit F1 particularly unique is it’s capacity to walk toward the user and fit itself perfectly using a ‘frontal docking method.’ This breakthrough allows individuals to summon the suit from their wheelchairs, and importantly, to wear the suit independently without needing any help, offering a genuine feeling of autonomy in their ability to move around.
Winning a gold medal for the second time at Cybathlon 2024 solidifies the WalkON Suit F1’s status as a pioneer in wearable robotics. As these devices become more widely available, they hold the potential to revolutionize daily life for countless individuals, fostering greater independence at home, in the workplace, and beyond.
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