Powered Exoskeleton Suit

Exoskeletons have always been an icon in the science fiction genre. These powered suits are often depicted as giant mechs piloted by humans as weapons of war.
Not all exoskeletons are giant mechs. There are exoskeletons as suits that protect the user and enhance their capabilities.
Famous example of these exoskeletons are Iron Man's armour and Master Chief's armour. These weaponized exoskeletons are not realistically capable of being produced with our current technology.

Fiction aside, powered exoskeletons are real. Similarly to fictional exoskeletions, these exoskeletons protect and assist the user.
The application of this technology is extremely beneficial. With exoskeletons, humans are able to lift heavy objects with ease and are able to lift weights that are impossible for a regular human to lift.
Exoskeletons are also useful in the medical field. Patients in hospitals, the elderly, or anyone who has difficulty walking can use exoskeletons to help walk.

The hybrid assistive limb or the HAL (pictured on the left) is an example on powered exoskeleton technology. Developed in Japan, the HAL will be used to aid in rehabilitation at hospitals, heavy labour, and also as rescue support.
The HAL works by picking up nerve signals from the brain on a limb. After picking up these signals, the HAL moves with the user's movement.
The full HAL suit is currently undergoing trials in hospitals. Watch the YouTube video below to learn more about the HAL.

In the past, early powered exoskeletons faced many problems. Power supplies could only power exoskeletons for a few hours. Exoskeletons had to be both light and strong to support the user.
Flexibility is also an issue as exoskeletons limited the range of motion of the user. Powered exoskeletons have advanced considerably. In the near future, they will have advanced enough to
be of practical use and will revolutionize jobs with heavy labour, aid in the rehabilitation of patients, and improve rescue efforts during disasters.

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