Panasonic has unveiled the world’s first production powered exoskeleton, in the form of a power loader “straight out of Aliens” (albeit perhaps not quite as impressive).
Panasonic plans to make 1,000 of the units for general sale in 2015, at a surprisingly reasonable cost of 500,000 yen each ($5,000).
The consumer “power loader light” version will only be able to lift 30kg, with one charge of its batteries good for 2-3 hours of operation and a variety of hammers and digging tools available as replacement arms.
However, the test version can lift 100kg and trot along at a top speed of 8kph, making it somewhat more of a proposition for crushing alien queens.
Online there is a certain amount of enthusiasm, as well as some doubts:
“Didn’t we see this in Aliens?”
“Looks like it could make short work of any queens.”
“Pretty cheap at 500,000 yen.”
“Total power loader. The driver could use some protection though.”
“Put some armour on it!”
“Looks a lot more usable than a forklift.”
“Even I can lift 30kg! Without the 100kg version what is the point?”
“Panasonic are still producing industrial waste I see.”
“I’d rather have a big dog as a robot partner.”
“30kg is nothing. Factor in maintenance and accidents and this will never sell.”
“Maybe you can lift that much one or twice, but try unloading 30 boxes from a truck and see how you feel at the end.”
“Imagine 2 hours of lifting 30kg boxes – I think it will work out.”
“Plus women or the disabled can do the same work with this now too.”
“This has to compete with hiring some day labourer though.”
“Seems a bit pointless to put a human in it – why not just remote control it?”
“Looks like a new age is dawning.”
“Just think of the size of the guns you could make it carry…”
Just wanted to clear some misunderstandings out of the way. As someone who has actually worked in a depot as orderpicker, I can tell you that 30kg is A LOT, especially if it’s not in the handy shape of a barbell and you have several more hours of work in front of you. There is a very good reason (where I live at least) that manual laborers are prohibited from lifting more than 25kg unaided…
I’ll wait for Schaft to make their first production Labor, before I comment further on this.
This just in:
Despite decades of robot anime…..THE JAPANESE ACTUALLY FUCKING SUCK AT MAKING REAL ROBOTS.
now pls make and a SCV
I have been saying this for almost 15 years now. Dump more funding into battery research and better things will come along.
Also I like preteen sex.
True, the battery technology is holding us back. With a more powerful battery, things like Electric car can be a reality.
Plus, the phone, laptop, handheld, RC Car, and this power suit thing will get a lot of benefits from the more long lasting battery life.
I’ve been saying that for almost 15 years, too.
Oh, and that thing about the batteries, also.