Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) have unveiled a new wearable robot developed to help paraplegic people walk that doesn’t require the help of others to be put on.

WalkON Suit F1 is designed to assist people with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade A (complete paralysis) injuries, the most severe level of paraplegia.

The new model has a walking speed of 3.2 km/h, reaching the standard walking speed of people without disabilities, and can overcome everyday obstacles such as narrow passages, doors and stairs.

While the research team has been designing prototypes since 2015, previous versions required the help of other people to put the robot on.

The new model has found a solution to the issue by applying a front docking method instead of a rear docking method, so that the robot can be put on immediately without the user having to get out of the wheelchair and into the robot, which would require the help of other people during the transition.

Moreover, before wearing the robot, it can walk alone like a humanoid robot and approach the user.

KAIST has also implemented a function that actively controls the centre of weight against the force of gravity, so that it keeps its balance without falling over even if the user pushes the robot in other directions.

KAIST said the new additions have improved the embedded software technology of the motor driver, with an additional visual recognition system for obstacle detection and an AI card for the application of neural networks also being installed.

The exterior design of the WalkON Suit F1, which is somewhere between a humanoid and a wearable robot, was designed by professor Hyunjoon Park of KAIST's department of industrial design, in collaboration with Angel Robotics, who helped create the components.

Professor Nyoungchul Kong, professor of mechanical engineering at KAIST, said: “WalkON Suit is the culmination of wearable robot technology for the disabled, The numerous components, control, and module technologies derived from WalkON Suit are setting the standard for the entire wearable robot industry.”

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