e.LEGS Will Make The Paralyzed Walk!

eLEGS for the physically challenged with walking. eLEGS will soon make the paralyzed walk. Robotic engineering is all set to use artificial intelligence to know how the wearer wants to walk.

Paraplegic patients under heavy stress on weak or no legs – being able to take a few steps, or even to stand using unconventional methods was unthinkable. Now, this cruelly unattainable goal is achievable. A relatively small company in San Francisco Bay area is all set to revolutionize all this discomfort. It has been able to create a new device called eLEGS- a battery powered skeleton, that uses artificial intelligence to “read” the wearer’s arm gestures via a set of crutches, simulating human gait. The big inspiration to go ahead with this kind of experiment has been the military exoskeletons. These are used in the army and soldiers strap on to lift heavy packs.

The robotic prosthetic legs are worn over ordinary clothing and simple velero straps that are usually made of nylon fabric, backpack-style clips and shoulder straps secure you in. The steely looking legs are driven by four motors, one for each hip and knee. The ankle joint is controlled with passive springs that keep the foot angled so that it can be placed on the ground., head to toe, as the leg steps. Sensors in the legs then relay position information to the control unit, which determines how to bend the joints and, in turn, walk.

As the device supports the wearer’s weight, balance is left to the patient through the crutches, which also serve to control the system. To take a step, the wearer pushes down with the crutch opposite to the intended stepping leg. Similar signals or gestures, such as pushing down on both crutches simultaneously, allow the wearer to transition from sitting to standing, or to make turns. It is the first such contraption in the world to do so without a tether. The device weighs about 22 kgs. It is modifiable and can be adjusted to fit users between 5’2 to 6’5 height, weighing less than 100 kgs and allows you to walk up to 3 km per hour with a battery life of about a day

For now, this robotic invention is only available at a few rehabilitation centres in the United States, where it is undergoing tests under the expert supervision of trained physical therapists, as part of a clinical trial.

But as things stand now, eLEGS could be available commercially by 2013 at the earliest.. But it was not all roses pioneering an effort that will walk miles. Like what Mr Edward Todd, a paraplegic patient told me after hearing the news of eLegs “ Throughout my paralyzed life, I had figured out sitting, and trying to get around from a recumbent position. Now perhaps, with this new device I will be able to stand and step out to take a stroll” We all are waiting too Mr Todd