KAIST Unveils ‘Walkon Suit F1’… A Robot That Approaches and Is Easy to Wear
Researcher Kim Seung-hwan, a paraplegic, from KAIST (left), explains the technology with researcher Park Jeong-soo while wearing the wearable robot on the 24th.
A domestic research team has developed a wearable robot that approaches the human body and is worn like clothing, similar to the suit seen in the movie “Iron Man.”
The purpose of this robot is to assist individuals with complete lower-body paralysis who cannot wear walking assistive devices by themselves.
Led by Professor Kyung-chul Kong from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST, the research team announced the wearable robot ‘Walkon Suit F1’ on the 24th, designed to help paraplegics walk.
The Walkon Suit F1 targets individuals with the most severe level of paralysis, known as complete paralysis. The research team first introduced the ‘Walkon Suit 1’ in 2016 and developed the ‘Walkon Suit 4’ in 2020, which achieved a walking speed of 3.2 km/h. They have advanced the technology to a level where it can match the pace of an able-bodied person.
However, these robots had a problem: they required assistance from others when being worn. The research team resolved this issue with the Walkon Suit F1.
Unlike other walking assistive robots, the Walkon Suit F1 is worn from the front, making it easy to put on. It is equipped with a function that allows it to walk toward the wearer like a humanoid. Once the Walkon Suit F1 approaches the wearer, the user can move their hands, arms, and torso to put it on by themselves.
The Walkon Suit F1 also excels in providing walking assistance. Once the robot is worn and the wearer stands up, they can walk upright and maintain balance well enough to walk short distances without a cane.
The research team announced they will participate in the 3rd Cybathlon competition on the 27th. The Cybathlon is a biennial event held in Switzerland where performances of equipment designed to overcome disabilities are showcased.