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Japanese Cybersuit Makes Real Life 'Iron Man'

by Evan Shamoon on September 11, 2008 at 05:02 PM



In what seems almost like a modern-day cliché, Japanese scientists have apparently created a real-life robot suit, which is set go into mass production in October. The goal? To give its user super-human strength. Think 'Iron Man,' in real life.

In what would seem like a nod to the nefarious computer in Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey saga, it's being called the HAL suit; here, that's shorthand for Hybrid Assistive Limb. The suit was created by the equally nefarious-sounding Cyberdyne Corporation (cough, 'Terminator,' cough), which says the suit will have a wide range of uses, such as aiding caregivers, helping people with physical disabilities to get around, and assisting users performing jobs that require superhuman physical strength -- like, say, taking over the world and/or giving the good superheroes someone to fight against.

As can be seen in the photo, the suit is worn over the arms and legs. It assists body movement via eight electric motors, which are attached to shoulders, elbows, knees, and the waist. Rather than sensing actual movement, it responds to bioelectrical impulses, which will apparently allow us to lift a whole lot of rice.

And vanquish all enemies. [From: Cyberdyne via Splash News]

Tags: hal, japan, robot

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