South Korean researchers at KAIST have been pioneering the development of exoskeletons for paraplegics, allowing them to walk for years; their latest innovation takes a distinctive approach. The WalkOn GO’s advanced technology allows it to comfortably approach an individual seated in a wheelchair, gently wrap its supportive arms around their legs and torso, and then assist them in standing up and taking steps independently.
Since 2009, Professor Kyoung-Chul Kong at South Korea’s KAIST has devoted himself to developing exoskeletons, unveiling the inaugural WalkOn prototype in 2016. By 2020, the analysis team successfully accelerated the robotic walking speed to an impressive 3.2 kilometers per hour (or 1.98 miles per hour), paving the way for its entry into the prestigious Cybathlon event held in Switzerland.
The Cybathlon, a pioneering initiative, debuted in 2016 under the aegis of ETH Zurich, with the goal of fostering breakthroughs in innovative technologies designed to aid individuals with physical disabilities. The inaugural event took place near Zurich, drawing participants from a diverse range of 25 countries, with 66 pilots vying for the top honour. Four years on, pilots representing KAIST’s WalkON team secured a notable 1st and 3rd place finish in the prestigious Exoskeleton Racing event, with their innovative solutions proving a winning formula. Here is the rewritten text:
The third edition of Cybathlon took place over the weekend, with Professor Kong’s team showcasing the latest innovation from the WalkON engineers.
Can you make it more distinct?
Walking on water isn’t a novelty for the F1 team – they’ve now created an exoskeleton that can walk on its own. Meet the subsequent-gen exoskeleton, WalkON Go, which marks a significant breakthrough in robotics and prosthetics.
Differing exoskeleton designs necessitate assistants to facilitate early transfers of paralysed individuals from their wheelchairs, prior to securing them to assistive devices; conversely, the WalkON Go suit F1 enables “self-paced walking like a humanoid robot” and strategically approaches the patient. The device features a front-docking system, enabling individuals with paraplegia to remain seated comfortably as the exoskeleton seamlessly attaches to their torso and legs.
A sophisticated system exists that dynamically adjusts its center of mass in real-time, countering the downward force of gravity to maintain equilibrium and prevent tipping when assisting individuals into an upright position. The general stability has been refined to enable the effective use of each arm while standing upright, accompanied by brief intervals of unassisted mobility without the need for a supporting cane. The motors and management algorithms have undergone significant enhancements compared to their predecessors, boasting advanced features such as vision-based obstacle detection capabilities.
KAIST
Seunghwan Kim, a paraplegic and researcher at an engineering lab, took on a unique role as the pilot for the exoskeleton competitors in the 2024 Cybathlon. Despite some teams traveling to Switzerland for competition, Professor Kong’s team decided to remain at the corporate headquarters he established in 2017 to showcase their progress with Angel Robotics, a pioneering venture into wearable robotics.
Groups were tasked with completing diverse missions within a predetermined timeframe, including “navigating through sidesteps between narrow chairs, moving packing containers, walking freely without assistance from crutches, navigating through a narrow doorway and closing it behind, and working independently on meal preparation in the kitchen.”
KAIST
Kim and her team, WalkOn, achieved a remarkable victory in their F1 challenge, completing all missions within an impressive time of 6 minutes and 41 seconds, securing a well-deserved first-place finish. The second-place finisher was a Swiss team, while the Thai engineers secured third place, despite both failing to accomplish all tasks within the prescribed 10-minute time frame.
As innovative minds come together to shape the future, the accumulated expertise and fundamental technologies honed in preparation for this competition are poised to accelerate progress and disseminate knowledge, igniting imagination to explore the potential of wearable robots and their transformative impact on our daily routines.
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