Robot suit for rent in Japan to help people walk

October 7, 2008 By YURI KAGEYAMA , AP Business Writer

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Robotic suits named HAL, or "hybrid assistive limb," are demonstrated during a press conference at the headquarters of Cyberdyne, a new company in Tsukuba, outside Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. HAL, that reads brain signals and helps people with mobility problems, will be available to rent in Japan for US$2,200 for both legs and $1,500 for a one leg a month starting Friday -- an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)

(AP) -- A robotic suit that reads brain signals and helps people with mobility problems will be available to rent in Japan for $2,200 a month starting Friday - an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly.

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• loboy - Oct 07, 2008
  • Rank: 4.7 / 5 (3)
  Cyberdyne! Are they also secretly working on Skynet?
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• ShadowRam - Oct 07, 2008
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  This is interesting.
  
  I'm absolutely certain thou, that after extend use of an item like this, you won't require your normal legs.
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• drayeon - Oct 07, 2008
  • Rank: 4.5 / 5 (2)
  Cyberdyne and HAL? They are a little heavy on the computers that eventually decide to kill people.
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• bmcghie - Oct 07, 2008
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  How much you want to bet somebody's military already has bought this idea for research towards real, honest to god, power suits...
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• SUBdiversity - Oct 07, 2008
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  Another "step" closer to RoboCop!. I shouldn't joke, this realy does look like a real breakthrough for the less able bodied.
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• Bob_Kob - Oct 08, 2008
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  Aside from the $2200 a month cost...
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• visual - Oct 08, 2008
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  I am sure they invested a lot in research and development and that justifies the high prices to some extent, but I also think the lack of competition was also a big factor that inflated the price.
  Gotta wonder, how much it actually costs to produce.
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