We would not recommend using MOONWALK-Omni to climb, say, Mounts Kilimanjaro or Olympus, but for more modest mountains or more refreshingly non-dangerous hikes, MOONWALK may be just right. The wearable robot was developed by Dr. Lee Jongwon of the Intelligent Robotics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology to help folks with aging bodies explore the more modest elevations nature has to offer. Here’s more from TechXplore:
The 2-kilogram device can be easily donned by an older adult in less than 10 seconds without assistance, and its four ultra-lightweight, high-powered actuators on either side of the pelvis help balance the user while walking and boost the wearer’s leg strength by up to 30% to increase propulsion.
The robot’s artificial intelligence (AI) analyzes the wearer’s gait in real time and provides safe and effective muscle support in a variety of walking environments, including gentle slopes, rough rocky paths, steep wooden stairs, and uneven stone steps. Through the Bukhansan Mountain Wearable Robot Challenge, the research team succeeded in verifying the performance and reliability of muscle support using wearable robots in everyday environments that are more complex than hospitals.