Have you ever thought to yourself “boy, I sure would like to be more like Goro, the four-armed dragon warrior from Mortal Kombat?” No? Well, just as well, because this thing is less like having four arms and more like having a dude sitting on your back.
A team of engineers from the University of Tokyo and Keio University, both in Japan, have been working on a proof of concept for a new type of wearable robot. The robot is worn on a subject’s back and features two robotic arms capable of basic motor control, as well as a “head” with two eye-level cameras. The robot is controlled remotely via a VR headset and controllers.
According to the robot’s creators, one of the intended uses of this device is remote training for jobs that require extensive handiwork. An instructor can guide whoever is wearing the robot via hand gestures, as well as grab the subject’s hands and guide them themselves. The creators also believe the robot could aid tasks requiring additional strength and finesse, giving subjects additional hands to hold things or more lifting power. The robot is still in its very early stages, lacking even an official name, but the creators are optimistic about finding a commercial use down the line.
