HAL5

愛・地球博で6月9日から19日まで「ロボット週間」開催中の模様。NEDOが大学や民間の 研究機関から公募・採択したプロトタイプロボット65種類が展示されるとのこと。引用記事は、おそらくプレス向けの事前公開の模様を記事にしたものでしょうね。このロボット「HAL5」というそうで、開発したのは、筑波大学大学院 山海研究室（システム情報工学）の皆さん。お姫様抱っこも雄々しいモデルさんは、院生の方でしょうか...。

HALというネーミングも十分にアレですが、この山海先生が設立されたCYBERDYNE株式会社というのは、ひょっとして“ターミネーター”に出てきた例の会社名と一緒ですかね。

世間的には、ロボット技術というとあくまで“平和利用”というのが金科玉条とされますが、その意味で言えば、映画の中であの会社が果たした役割を考えると、非常に無邪気なネーミングと考えるべきなのか、それとも、映画のエピソードを反面教師とした強い決意の表れなのか...。真相はいかに?

Link: Japan unveils "robot suit" that enhances human power - Yahoo! News.

Japan has taken a step into the science-fiction world with the release of a "robot suit" that can help workers lift heavy loads or assist people with disabilities climb stairs.

"Humans may be able to mutate into supermen in the near future," said Yoshiyuki Sankai, professor and engineer at Tsukuba University who led the project.

The 15-kilogram (33-pound) battery-powered suit, code-named HAL-5, detects muscle movements through electrical-signal flows on the skin surface and then amplifies them.

It can also move on its own accord, enabling it to help elderly or handicapped people walk, developers said.

The prototype suit will be displayed at the World Exposition that is currently taking place in Aichi prefecture, central Japan.

Japan has seen a growing market for technology geared toward the elderly, who are making up an increasing chunk of the population as fewer younger Japanese choose to start families.

A government report last week showed that pensioners made up a record 19.5 percent of the country's population in 2004 and that the ratio will grow rapidly, surpassing 35 percent in 2050.

Comments

[Bill Hawkins]

Congratulations on the concept. I have a reduced neurological function in my right leg. I can walk but stiffly in the right leg. Some days I walk better than others. I am interested to see if you can help me walk properly.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,
Bill Hawkins.