How Can We Power Up Exoskeleton Rehabilitator Medical Devices If Batteries Are the Weak Link?

It is probably impossible to know everything that can go wrong before you start. Nevertheless, there are inherent challenges to technology in just about any innovation, along with the fact that there are limits to the current state of the technology when trying to devise additional applications. Let me give you a case in point. Not long ago, I was talking to a gentleman who wishes to create exoskeletons to help train the motor skills, muscles, and brain of cerebral palsy victims.

Now then, if you know anything about this, you've probably seen the equipment in the clinics which are used for therapy. Generally it consists of some sort of apparatus to hold the individual, a very slow-moving treadmill, all hooked up to a bunch of computer equipment and analytical displays. However in this case it would be different, the exoskeleton would maintain its balance and you could walk down the sidewalk with it, for miles if you wanted, all while helping the person learn to walk, and allowing their brain to work around the damaged area to control their muscles. Well, that's the idea anyway.

Can We Do Brain Motor Skills Training While You Sleep Using Exoskeleton Technology?

When someone has a stroke and brain damage it often affects their mobility, and this is because if the stroke hits a certain part of the brain which is used for walking, then the person has to learn how to walk all over again. Luckily the human brain can adapt and use other parts to do this task, but still it's almost as if they have to start all over. And what about kids with cerebral palsy, combat veterans with brain damage, or accident victims? Not long ago, I was discussing this with an acquaintance - the potential for using exoskeleton technology to help retrain, or the case of cerebral palsy - teach the brain to walk.

The gentleman who brought this to my attention suggested that we should use the latest technology in exoskeletons used by the military in their research. What we would do is strap people in and the exoskeleton would walk them around, rather than them being in a wheelchair, and as they were doing this it would be like training the muscles, reflexes, and the brain on how to move properly to walk.