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Japan-born Robot Suit HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) is a new type robot which strengthens the physical functions of human, and detects the wearer’s will by capturing bioelectric potential signals on the skin.

Photo by jurvetson

HAL was developed by Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai of System & Information Engineering in [W:University of Tsukuba], and first appeared in public in 1996 as the world first cyborg robot. For the practical application of the research and development to industry, the professor founded a robotics and technology company, Cyberdyne in 2004. In 2008, the company’s sole agency, Daiwa House Industry Company started lease the robot to welfare and nursing facilities in the country.

There are two types of HAL; full body and lower body. For the present, the robot concentrates on supporting elder people’s legs as a “nursing robot.”

The video below introduces HAL and Professor Sankai.

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