这些机器人的外骨骼远非科幻小说，正在帮助残疾人或危险和艰苦的工作。
Let's be honest, who hasn't dreamed of having a robotic power suit?
它们已经成为电影和视频游戏中的普遍景象，使他们的虚构用户能够执行超人的力量，敏捷性和耐力。
1986年电影中的外骨骼，外星人. Image courtesy ofTwentieth Century Fox.
But, as is often the case, real-world technology is following the example that has been set by fiction. Robotic suits and exoskeletons seem to be popping up all over the place with a variety of designs, features, and purposes.
Here are a few of the most recent and awesome projects that have been or will soon be making a difference in our world.
NASA的Power Glove
NASA has a history of creating tech for space travel that later finds its way into use back home. A recent example of this is the Power Glove. It is the product of a NASA partnership with General Motors, and is based off the same design that drives the hands on Robonaut 2, a robotic astronaut currently in use aboard the International Space Station.
从本质上讲，它是一款手套，手腕周围有四个执行器，指尖上的压力传感器。执行器连接到人工“肌腱”，这些“肌腱”延伸到手套的手掌并附着在手指上。电力组可提供电源，该电池组安装在用户的身体上，该电池组可以使用几个小时的使用手套为手套供电。佩戴时，手套会检测到用户何时抓住东西并使用执行器来增强用户的抓地力。
动力手套。图像提供通用汽车.
根据美国国家航空航天局（NASA）的说法, the glove can add 15-20 pounds to a user's grip strength, while requiring only 5-10 pounds from the user. While this doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be crushing steel pipes or ripping up sign posts, it does mean that individuals whose jobs require them to perform repetitive tasks, or use the same tool for an extended period of time, can do so with significantly less strain and fatigue, as they need only apply enough pressure to activate the glove, and it will do the rest.
通用汽车和美国国家航空航天局希望该设备可以由工厂和装配线工人，建筑工人以及任何工作需要重复运动的其他人使用，但是进入该设备的技术也可以帮助开发其他机器人技术，例如假肢和康复。
Ekso Bionics的Ekso GT
如果您或您所爱的人曾经发生过事故或疾病或疾病，使他们长时间卧床不起，甚至更糟，完全无法行走，您将了解物理疗法对于有助于康复至关重要。不幸的是，对患者和治疗师来说，它在身体和精神上都很要求。滑倒或跌倒可能会使情况变得更糟，并且患者灰心或恐惧可能很容易。
Companies like Ekso Bionics are seeking to create robotic exoskeletons that can aid in the process and are making great strides (pardon the pun) in that direction. In particular, the Ekso GT recently received FDA clearance for use with stroke and spinal cord injury patients and is beginning to be used in gait therapy to teach people to walk again.
It consists of a series of braces which are strapped to the patient's body. A battery pack is attached to the patient's lower back, along with some controls and instruments, as well as two handles for use by the therapist. Sensors and motors work together to support the patient's legs and torso, and encourage correct posture as they begin to walk with the help of a therapist.
Ekso GT。图像提供Ekso Bionics.
根据伤害，治疗师能够随着治疗的进展，可以在不同领域进行调整和变化。例如，他们可以为受伤的左腿提供更多的支持，但只需稍作指导和校正就可以使用右腿。
Ekso GT dev主要目的是作为治疗ice and carries a hefty price tag, so consumers won't be buying their own models anytime soon. It is currently in use in rehabilitation programs around the world, and will hopefully continue to see increased use as the technology improves.
Below is a video from 2012 showing theEksodevice in action:
SuitX's Phoenix
Similar to the Ekso GT, thePhoenix旨在帮助脊柱受伤的受害者。但是，与Ekso GT不同，Sutx希望该西装有一天可以作为电动轮椅的可能替代品，使用户可以拥有自己的西装并每天使用它。
它的模块化设计使用户可以穿上西装并无助地取下西装，调整为异常高或短的用户，或者仅根据需要穿一部分西装。它与拐杖一起使用，并带有安装在手柄上的西装的控件。坐在轮椅上时，它也很容易佩戴。
凤凰。图像提供SuitX.
At the moment, however, it is still in development, and as such still requires a great deal of maintenance, and is not yet ready for general sale. Currently, the suit is mostly limited "test pilots", who both test the suit and even travel the world, demonstrating the suit's capabilities.
本田的步行助理
最后，我们有本田步行助理。这是一个比凤凰城或Eksogt简单得多的单元，步行辅助程序实际上是两个独立的设备。
The Stride Management Assist is essentially a belt with a battery pack, with two short arms that strap to each of the user's thighs. It provides slight assistance on each step, but requires that the user still be able to walk on their own. While it does reduce fatigue, its primary objective is to help promote good posture, and correct stride rhythm, and form.
The Walking Assist device. Image courtesy ofHonda.
第二个设备是体重支撑辅助。它由一个小的马鞍形座椅和两条腿组成，末端绑在用户的脚上。从本质上讲，它可以作为凳子或座椅与您一起移动，支撑您的体重，但没有抑制您走路和移动的能力。
The Bodyweight Support Assist device. Image courtesy ofHonda.
Honda began leasingthe Stride Management Assist out to Japanese companies for testing in 2015, but it appears that they hope to eventually sell them to the general public. The device is lightweight, but has accomplished this by trading off for power issues. The battery only has a 60 minute run time before needing to recharge, something that will need to be addressed before you can expect to wear yours all day long.
当然，这些只是目前正在全球开发的外骨骼。外骨骼开发似乎主要是平衡成本，重量和电池寿命的问题，但是情况一直在不断改善。
目前，这些设备中的大多数旨在主要用于工业和医疗领域，但是随着技术的进步，谁知道呢？机器人外骨骼很容易获得日常使用可能只是时间问题。
哇，太棒了